Lian Wenfeng, the founder of DeepSeek, has made a breakthrough discovery that demonstrates powerful AI models can be built with fewer Nvidia chips. This finding has significant implications, particularly in China where access to high-end chips is restricted.

Heritable Agriculture is a data-and machine learning-driven startup aiming to improve how crops are grown. The company uses AI to analyze plant genomes and determine combinations that could improve crop production. By understanding these genomes, crops can be bred with climate-friendly traits for increased yields, lower water requirements, and higher carbon storage capacity.

India has eased restrictions on its Aadhaar authentication service, a digital identity verification framework linked to the biometrics of over 1.4 billion people, to let businesses including those offering services such as e-commerce, travel, hospitality, and healthcare use the verification system to authenticate their customers.

Apple is introducing a new feature called Confetti that will allow iCloud users to invite people to parties and other events directly from their calendars. The feature, which could launch as early as this week, is reportedly tied to iOS 18.3 and may also mark the beginning of a broader revamp of Apple's Calendar app.

Shein has relaunched in India through a partnership with Reliance's retail chain, nearly five years after it was banned amid diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Beijing. The new app, developed and launched by billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Retail, marks the firm's significant return to one of Asia's largest retail markets ahead of its much-anticipated public listing later this year.

The European Union's AI Act officially went into effect on August 1, with a first compliance deadline set for February 2. The act aims to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in various sectors, including consumer applications and physical environments. Companies that fail to comply with the act may face fines.

Dub, a new investing app, aims to revolutionize the way people invest in the stock market. By allowing users to follow and copy the trades of experienced investors, Dub hopes to make investing more accessible and less intimidating for beginners. The app also provides risk scores, returns, and stability metrics to help users make informed decisions.

openai has announced the launch of its latest ai-powered research tool, chatgpt deep research. this feature enables users to conduct in-depth analysis and generate well-cited outputs, revolutionizing the way we approach research and knowledge discovery.

The potential ban of TikTok in the US has led to a flurry of features, including one for Bluesky focused on photos and a news reader for the fediverse. This comes as Flipboard's new app Surf adds its own video feed, personalizing it to each individual user.

As venture debt funding continues to rise, startups are facing increasing pressure to sell or shut down. With the majority of lenders having troubled companies in their portfolio, it's becoming more challenging for startups to secure funding. Many startups will have no choice but to sell for a low price or shut down this year.

tech is upbeat about more companies going public this year as shein, general atlantic, and oyo prepare for ipos. shein filed confidentially to go public in the u.k. in 2024 but met resistance from lawmakers there. the company was last valued at $45 billion in 2024. general atlantic confidentially filed to go public in 2023 but has not provided any updates since then. oyo, backed by softbank, confidentially filed for an ipo in india in march 2023 and is reportedly planning to file again this year.

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has reportedly taken over multiple government agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management, Treasury Department, and General Services Administration. This unprecedented power grab allows DOGE to access sensitive payment systems and personal data.

The Indian government has announced a new $1.15 billion fund for startups, aimed at boosting tech innovation in the country. The fund builds on earlier startup funding programs and will have an expanded scope compared to previous initiatives.

The advent of cloud computing and distributed digital infrastructure has enabled employees to leverage AI agents for deeper productivity. This paradigm shift empowers individuals to become managers of AIs, leading to a new era of entrepreneurialism and increased productivity.

As Elon Musk's X sees a decline, Mastodon, Bluesky, and Threads social networks are gaining popularity. Mastodon has over 10 million registered users, while Threads has over 100 million daily active users.