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  • Apple Supply Chain Expands in Tamil Nadu with INR 30,000 Cr Investment, 60,000 Jobs Expected

    According to T. R. B. Rajaa, Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion, and Commerce, the state’s excellent infrastructure, talent pool, and governance are luring Apple suppliers and ecosystem companies to engage in component manufacture.

    State Incentives Boost Electronics Manufacturing

    To increase the production of electronic components, the state, which already has a number of suppliers for Apple ecosystem components, launched the Tamil Nadu Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme in April.

    The government is providing state-level incentives that are equivalent to the advantages of the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme in an effort to draw in more companies. This will provide competitive support for companies establishing operations in the state.

    INR 30,000 Cr Scheme to Generate 60,000 Jobs

    The project intends to generate approximately 60,000 new jobs and draw in investments totalling INR 30,000 crore. In an exclusive interview with Moneycontrol, Rajaa stated that bringing more of the Apple ecosystem to Tamil Nadu was his top aim when he took over in 2023, and he was successful in doing so during the year.

    Now it’s the other way around: as a result of the globalisation of the “Brand Tamil Nadu,” more Apple suppliers are contacting us. He went on to say that his government knew that this state had those kinds of skills. He said that people shouldn’t think of India when they think of Tamil Nadu; they should think of Tamil Nadu separately.

    This state is distinct due to its excellent infrastructure, skill pool, and greatly improved government. One of Apple’s major international suppliers, Foxconn, currently produces iPhones in Tamil Nadu for export to markets throughout the world, mainly the US. An important hub for Apple’s supply chain for manufacturing in India is now Tamil Nadu.

    Major Apple Suppliers Operating in Tamil Nadu

    Along with Foxconn, the state is home to important suppliers, including Jabil, which is establishing a sizable new facility in Trichy; Tata Electronics, which operates substantial iPhone and component facilities; and Pegatron, which is currently controlled by Tata Electronics. Other important participants are ON Semiconductor, Lingyi iTech (precision components), Corning (Gorilla Glass near Sriperumbudur), and Salcomp (chargers and components).

    Supported by special economic zones and government incentives, these businesses are mostly based in Hosur, the Sriperumbudur-Oragadam-Kancheepuram corridor, and recently Tiruchirapalli.

    Tamil Nadu’s Role in Apple’s China+1 Strategy

    According to analysts, the environment for electronics manufacturing in Tamil Nadu is still expanding quickly and is essential to Apple’s plan to diversify its supply chain outside of China. In FY2025, Tamil Nadu’s electronics exports reached a record high of $14.65 billion, or 41.2 percent of India’s total electronics exports. Through the program, it hopes to increase electronics exports from the current $14.6 billion to $50 billion over the course of the next three to four years.

    Future Plans: From Glass to Li-Ion Cells

    The government intends to localise the entire supply chain and venture into more intricate and valuable segments of the electronics value chain with the new program. The state will use the program to encourage the production of various components, including Li-ion cells, HDI/Flexi PCBs, sensors, camera/display modules and sub-assemblies, and SMD passive components.

  • Daily Indian Funding Roundup & Key News – 28 July 2025: Drizz Raises $2.7M, Krutrim Layoffs, New UPI Rules, Lenskart Board Update & More

    On 28th July, Indian startups and businesses saw some important updates. Genexis Biotech raised INR 4 crore to grow its biotech work, while Drizz got $2.7 million to improve mobile app testing. In other news, VerSe Innovation hired a new HR head, Krutrim laid off over 100 employees, and new UPI rules were announced to manage system load. Here’s a quick look at the top funding deals and key business news from the day.

    Daily Indian Funding Digest – 28 July 2025

    Startup Funding Round Amount Lead Investor(s) Sector / Use
    Genexis Biotech Seed ₹4 crore (~USD 0.5 m) GVFL (with Benzai10) Animal‑origin‑free recombinant proteins, scaling bioreactors
    Drizz Seed USD 2.7 million (~₹23.4 crore) Stellaris Venture Partners (with others) Mobile app testing automation platform

    Genexis Biotech secures INR 4 crore seed funding

    Vadodara‑based Genexis Biotech has closed an INR 4 crore seed round led by GVFL, along with participation from Benzai10. The funds will be deployed to expand bioreactor capacity, build downstream processing infrastructure, launch recombinant proteins (such as amino peptidase, enterokinase, and upcoming transferrin and albumin), and enhance compliance, sales and distribution capabilities.

    Genexis Biotech specialises in animal‑origin‑free recombinant protein production using precision fermentation, addressing demand in biopharma, food‑tech, cell culture and cosmetics sectors. The firm operates a Class 10,000 certified facility and is setting up a GMP‑compliant unit.

    Drizz raises $2.7 million in seed round

    Mobile testing and automation startup Drizz has secured $2.7 million in its seed funding round, with Stellaris Venture Partners leading and other investors participating. The capital will support Drizz’s growth plans and further development of its DevOps testing platform tailored for mobile application testing efficiency.

    Drizz provides an AI‑driven mobile app testing platform designed to help developers and enterprises automate quality assurance workflows at scale. With the app ecosystem expanding rapidly, Drizz’s tools aim to streamline testing, reduce time‑to‑market and support continuous integration practices.

    Key News Highlights for 28 July 2025

    VerSe Innovation appoints Rohit Sandal as CHRO

    VerSe Innovation, the AI‑powered parent of Dailyhunt and Josh, has appointed Rohit Sandal as Chief Human Resources Officer. A veteran from Freshworks, Lenovo and Dell, Sandal succeeds Maya John and will lead global talent strategy and culture transformation as VerSe scales internationally. The move aims to reinforce VerSe’s future‑ready workforce and support its AI‑first products, including NexVerse.ai, Dailyhunt Premium and Josh Audio Calling, which serve over 350 million users.

    Ola‑backed AI firm Krutrim lays off over 100 staff in second round

    Founded by Bhavish Aggarwal, AI unicorn Krutrim has laid off over 100 employees in a second wave of job cuts, primarily affecting its linguistics division. The majority had been hired just six months ago. The restructuring aims at leaner operations amid slower product traction and fundraising delays. At peak, the linguistics team had nearly 600 members working across ten Indian languages.

    Lenskart moves ahead with IPO; board reshuffled ahead of float

    Lenskart shareholders have approved an IPO to raise INR 2,150 crore (~USD 250 million) via fresh issue; total offer size may reach INR 8,500 crore (~USD 1 billion) including secondary sales. Ahead of listing, independent directors Ashish Kashyap (IndMoney founder, ex‑Goibibo) and Sayali Karanjkar (co‑founder PaySense) have joined the board. The board literacy and governance tweaks align with public market expectations. A DRHP filing is expected imminently.

    AI SaaS startup Astra shuts down four months after funding

    Astra, an AI‑driven SaaS startup backed by Perplexity AI co‑founder Aravind Srinivas, has unexpectedly shut down operations barely four months after raising capital. The firm had aimed to deploy AI Sales Agents to automate enterprise sales workflows. Despite Srinivas’s investment and strategic backing, Astra cited insufficient traction and operational hurdles as reasons for ceasing business.

    Major UPI rule changes effective 1 August to ease system load

    From 1 August 2025, the NPCI will enforce limits under new UPI regulations: users can check bank balance only 50 times per day per UPI app and view linked bank accounts only 25 times daily. Autopay mandates and transaction‑status queries will be confined to fixed windows outside peak hours, and API‑based features such as address validation will be regulated. These measures aim to reduce backend congestion and boost system stability.

    Indian Startup Funding Updates for 2025 (Updated Weekly)
    Get weekly updates on Indian startup funding for 2025! StartupTalky is here to provide you with a clear and simple overview of the latest funding news.
    StartupTalkyApoorva Bajj

  • UPI Rule Changes from August 1: Daily Limits, Auto-Debit & API Restrictions Explained

    Members of the UPI ecosystem must abide by a new set of rules established by NPCI, which include restricting balance inquiry queries and controlling the use of APIs such as Autopay Mandate Execution and Validate Address.

    To enhance the functionality of UPI transactions, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has made a number of modifications to the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) ecosystem.

    Members of the UPI ecosystem must abide by a new set of rules established by NPCI, which include restricting balance inquiry queries and controlling the use of APIs such as Autopay Mandate Execution and Validate Address. The specifics of the significant changes that UPI users will encounter starting on August 1 are covered in this article.

    New Balance Inquiry Limits for UPI Users

    Through a particular bank in the UPI app, customers can examine the list of bank accounts connected to their mobile number thanks to the List Account API. The usage is restricted to 25 requests per customer per app per day (on a rolling 24-hour basis) in accordance with NPCI norms.

    Only when the user has chosen their bank in the UPI app should these requests be made. Retries must only be made with the customer’s permission if the account list does not load in order to prevent needless system load. One first attempt and a maximum of three retries per mandate (designated by each sequence number) are the limits specified by NPCI.

    Restrictions on Autopay and Retry Attempts

    This implies that a single mandate may be carried out up to four times. All autopay executions should be planned during off-peak times exclusively in order to further alleviate congestion. As NPCI implements new API guidelines to avoid downtime, certain UPI transactions will be subject to limitations starting on August 1.

    Peak hours, which are recorded between 10:00 and 13:00 and between 17:00 and 21:30, are the times of day when UPI financial transactions achieve their peak transaction volume per second.

    What NPCI Expects from PSPs?

    The NPCI has directed Payment Service Providers (PSPs) to implement the relevant changes in their system by July 31, 2025. Failure to comply may lead to actions such as restrictions on UPI API access, penalties, suspension of new customer onboarding, or other appropriate measures.

    The NPCI press release on May 21, 2025, stated that members are requested to take note of this compliance requirement and communicate it to relevant stakeholders and their respective partners for implementation by 31 ‘July 2025.

    In the event of non-compliance with the above guidelines, NPCI may take necessary action, including UPI API restrictions, penalties, suspension of new customer onboarding, or any other measures deemed appropriate.

  • AI Startup Krutrim Lays Off 100+ Employees as Bhavish Aggarwal Restructures Workforce

    The Economic Times recently reported that in a second round of layoffs, Krutrim, the artificial intelligence startup started by Bhavish Aggarwal of Ola, had let go of around 100 workers. A significant portion of the firm’s linguistics staff, which had just recently arrived, was impacted by the layoffs.

    The decision was made only a few weeks after more than a dozen positions were eliminated in Krutrim’s initial wave of layoffs in June. The ET further reported that the most recent layoffs were a result of a “strategic realignment” and an effort to create leaner teams in order to better manage resources. The existing round of layoffs started soon after Kruti, the company’s AI helper, was introduced in June.

    Why the Linguistics Team Was Hit Hard?

    The report went on to say that the company no longer requires as many employees as they once did because nearly 80% of the training has already been completed for the AI helper Kruti. This implies that as the product approaches completion in its early stage, the company’s requirement for linguistics personnel has decreased.

    Strategic Realignment: The Real Reason Behind the Cuts

    Prior to this, Krutrim had declared significant efforts to develop its AI capabilities. When Bhavish Aggarwal established Krutrim AI Labs earlier this year, he committed INR 2,000 crore to AI development, with ambitions to double that amount to INR 10,000 crore the following year. In 2024, the business became a unicorn after raising $50 million from venture capital firm Z47 Partners.

    Tech Layoffs in 2025 Globally

    Particularly at a time when many software companies worldwide are cutting budgets and shrinking staff, the layoffs are perceived as a change in emphasis from team expansion to effective capital use.

    Even though artificial intelligence is still one of the most talked-about development sectors, many startups and big businesses are having trouble controlling costs while attempting to grow rapidly.In 2025 alone, the tech industry’s current wave of layoffs has resulted in over 100,000 job losses worldwide.

    As they prioritise AI integration and adjust to shifting market conditions, major companies like IBM, Intel, and Microsoft continue to reduce their workforces.

    AI’s Growing Role in Workforce Reductions

    Microsoft, for example, just announced 9,100 layoffs that will impact its Xbox and gaming operations, among other departments. These layoffs serve as a reminder of the continuous difficulties businesses have in the quickly changing tech sector.

    Additionally, IBM has been laying off some 8,000 workers, primarily from its human resources division. This comes after an internal shift towards automation, where jobs that were formerly handled by human staff are progressively being replaced by AI systems.

    This change demonstrates how AI is increasingly affecting employment positions and the strategic realignments that tech businesses are undergoing. AI integration is changing the nature of work and the skills needed in the tech sector.

  • Lenskart Gets Shareholder Nod for INR 2150 Cr IPO, Eyes $1 Billion Market Debut

    The shareholders of Lenskart have given their consent for the company to raise INR 2,150 Cr ($248.7 Mn) through a new share offering as part of the first public offering (IPO).

    What’s Included in the Upcoming Lenskart IPO?

    A secondary offer for sale (OFS) component by current investors will also be included in Lenskart’s new issuance, according to the company’s filings with the MCA.

    Additional corporate and other approvals are pending for the listing. The first to report on the development was CNBC TV18. According to reports, the total IPO amount is anticipated to be approximately $1 billion, or INR 8,500 crore.

    Moreover, Lenskart suggested listing the equity shares on the National Stock Market of India Limited, the BSE Limited, and any other stock market that its board deemed appropriate.

    Key Filings and Financial Updates

    The company also obtained the board’s in-principle approval to distribute equity shares worth up to INR 430 Cr to specific investors, according to the document. The allocation would take place on or before the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) receives the red herring prospectus (RHP). In the meantime, the Lenskart Employee Stock Option Plan, 2025 (ESOP 2025), granted 7,280,431 equity shares to qualified employees.

    This comes weeks after the massive eyeglasses company became a public company. Additionally, sources stated that Peyush Bansal, the cofounder and CEO of Lenskart, was seeking to repurchase 1.5–2% of the company from its current investors, which included TR Capital, SoftBank, Chiratae Ventures, and Kedaara Capital, for approximately $150 million.

    Lenskart’s Global Footprint & Investor Backing

    Lenskart, an omnichannel eyewear shop with locations in India, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and Japan, was founded in 2010 by Bansal, Amit Chaudhury, and Sumeet Kapahi.

    According to the company, it has over 2,500 outlets and 2 Cr customers. Up to this point, the Gurugram-based business has raised more than $1.75 billion from investors, including Temasek, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, and ChrysCapital. In terms of finances, the firm reduced its net loss from INR 64 Cr in the prior fiscal year to INR 10 Cr in FY24, an 84% decrease.

    In the meantime, operating revenue increased 43% from INR 3,788 Cr in FY23 to INR 5,427.7 Cr in the reviewed year. Additionally, several startups have been moving forward with their intentions for a public offering at this time.

    Lenskart Joins India’s Tech IPO Wave                        

    Lenskart joined the line of cutting-edge IT firms that are planning to debut their public issues, such as Physics Wallah, Wakefit, Pine Labs, Shadowfax, Amagi, Curefoods, Capillary Technologies, Shiprocket, and Urban Company. UBS, Avendus Capital, IIFL, and JM Financial were reportedly hired as lead managers by supply chain solutions firm Leap India earlier today in preparation for its impending market debut.

    Lenskart Files for INR 2,150 Cr IPO With SEBI, Eyes Market Expansion

    The market watchdog SEBI has received Lenskart’s draft red herring prospectus (DRHP), which aims to raise up to INR 2,150 Cr through a new share offering. An offer for sale (OFS) of up to 13.2 Cr shares by current investors will also be included in the initial public offering (IPO).

    The shares will be sold through the OFS by promoters Peyush Bansal, Neha Bansal, Amit Chaudhary, and Sumeet Kapahi, as well as institutional investors SVF II Lightbulb (SoftBank), Schroders, PI Opportunities, Macritchie Investments, Kedaara Capital, and Alpha Wave Ventures. LensKart may also fund up to INR 430 Cr in a pre-IPO placement, according to the DRHP.

    A total of INR 272.6 Cr would be set aside for capital expenditures to construct and outfit new Company Owned, Company Operated (CoCo) outlets. For the company’s CoCo outlets, an additional INR 591.4 Cr will be used for lease, rent, and license-related expenses.

    Additionally, INR 320 Cr is set aside for marketing, brand promotion, and advertising to increase public awareness and draw in new clients, while INR 213.3 Cr will be utilised for the expansion and upgrade of cloud infrastructure and technology systems.

  • Tesla-Samsung $16.5B Chip Deal Confirmed: Musk Reveals Game-Changing Partnership

    According to reports, Tesla and Samsung Electronics have inked a significant chip supply agreement valued at $16.5 billion through 2033. The action is intended to help Samsung’s faltering contract chip manufacturing division, which is up against fierce competition from TSMC.

    Inside the $16.5 Billion Agreement: What We Know So Far

    In the midst of trade negotiations, analysts say the agreement might lower losses and improve South Korea-US tech ties. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, announced on 28 July that the US automaker has agreed to purchase semiconductors from Samsung Electronics. This agreement is anticipated to support the South Korean tech giant’s struggling contract manufacturing division.

    Unnaming the customer, Samsung revealed on 26 July that it had signed a $16.5 billion chip supply agreement with a significant international corporation. It stated that the client had asked for confidentiality on the specifics of the agreement, which is set to expire in 2033. Reuters was informed by three people with knowledge of the situation that Tesla was the buyer of the deal.

    Why the Deal Matters for Samsung’s Foundry Division?

    Samsung is currently experiencing increasing pressure in the artificial intelligence chip manufacturing industry, as it is lagging behind competitors like TSMC and SK Hynix. This agreement is in response to this pressure. Its earnings and stock price have suffered greatly as a result of this delay.

    Through its foundry division, Samsung, the leading memory chip manufacturer in the world, also produces logic chips that are custom-designed by clients. According to Kiwoom Securities analyst Pak Yuak, the most recent agreement will assist in lowering losses at Samsung’s foundry division, which he calculated totalled more than ₩5 trillion ($3.63 billion) for the first half of the year.

    Geopolitical Stakes: Strengthening US–South Korea Tech Ties

    According to analysts, Samsung has had trouble keeping important customers from switching to TSMC for cutting-edge processors. Among TSMC’s clients are Apple, Nvidia, and Qualcomm. The Samsung-Tesla agreement is also important for South Korea, which is looking for U.S. shipbuilding and chip collaborations as it makes desperate attempts to negotiate a trade agreement that would remove or drastically cut possible 25% U.S. tariffs.

    Samsung’s Chip Struggles: Can This Deal Turn Things Around?

    According to BNK Investment & Securities analyst Lee Min-hee, Samsung is struggling to increase manufacturing yields of its most recent 2-nanometre technology; therefore, it is unlikely that the order will incorporate the state-of-the-art technology.

    In contract manufacturing, Samsung has been losing market share to TSMC, highlighting the technological obstacles the company must overcome to become proficient in advanced chip fabrication and draw in customers like Apple and Nvidia, analysts said.

    It’s unclear how the order will impact Samsung’s plans to begin production at its new Texas factory, which has been postponed due to the company’s inability to attract big clients.

  • Smarter Research, Safer Practices: IFERP Publishes New Guidelines on the Ethics of AI Use in Academics

    Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 28:  The Institute for Educational Research and Publication (IFERP) unveils a practical framework supported by dedicated conference tracks and training to help students, faculty, and administrators harness AI’s power responsibly while guarding academic integrity.

    The Institute for Educational Research and Publication (IFERP) today announced a comprehensive set of guidelines and workshops designed to strengthen the ethical and transparent use of artificial intelligence across global campuses.

    “Generative AI is now a co-author, a tutor, and sometimes a gatekeeper in the scholarly journey. Our new framework ensures that researchers gain AI’s efficiencies without sacrificing originality, privacy, or trust,” said Mr. Siddth Kumar Chhajer, MD & Founder, IFERP, Technoarete Group.

    IFERP’s Role in Advancing the Next Era of Research and Learning

    • IFERP’s international forums, such as the annual “AI & Its Applications: Transforming Industries and Society” series, show a sharp rise in papers using AI-assisted literature reviews and funding-match tools.
    • In-house solutions like AI Academic Resume Builder and ResearchPedia have streamlined CV creation and article summarisation for thousands of scholars.
    • AI already personalises learning, powers virtual tutors, and automates plagiarism checks across IFERP-partner institutions.

    Yet faculty surveys reveal concerns around false plagiarism “hits,” data-privacy gaps, and student over-reliance on chatbots.

    Responsible AI in Academia toolkit

    1. Clear disclosure rules: Authors must declare any AI assistance at both submission and final-proof stages, in line with IFERP’s publication policy.

    2. Integrity thresholds: All manuscripts must remain ≥ 80% original text and below 20% similarity on standard checkers.

    3. Data-privacy checklist: A step-by-step consent and storage protocol for any platform that ingests student work.

    4. Bias & fairness audit: Rapid worksheets aligned with UNESCO’s 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, the world’s first global AI ethics standard, and the EU’s risk-based 2024 AI Act framework.

    5. Human-in-the-loop rubric: Guidance on maintaining subject-expert oversight for high-stakes decisions (grading, admissions, funding).

    Building Global Capacity for Responsible AI Use

    • Conference tracks: The upcoming Dubai edition of AI & Its Applications features sessions on Ethical AI, Fair & Ethical AI in Criminal Justice, and AI Governance in Environmental Sciences.
    • Workshops & webinars: Monthly virtual clinics and faculty development programmes focus on bias testing, prompt engineering, and policy drafting.
    • Global partnerships: IFERP invites universities to co-host events and share best practices through its Academic and Organising Partner schemes.

    About IFERP

    The Institute for Educational Research and Publication (IFERP) is a premier academic association connecting 118,000+ members across 80+ countries. Through conferences, journals, and bespoke digital tools, IFERP accelerates multidisciplinary research, innovation, and knowledge exchange.

  • TCS Layoffs Confirmed: 12,000+ Jobs Affected in Major Restructuring

    Tata Consultancy Services, the biggest provider of IT services in India, announced on 27 July that it will cut 2% of its personnel in its 2026 fiscal year, mostly affecting middle and senior management.

    About 12,200 positions will be lost as a result of the company’s retraining and redeploying of employees as it enters new markets, makes investments in new technologies, and uses AI. According to a statement from TCS, the action is a component of the company’s larger plan to become a “future-ready organisation” that emphasises personnel restructuring, market expansion, AI deployment, and technological expenditures.

    The business also stated that this change is being carefully planned to guarantee that our clients’ service delivery won’t be impacted.

    Why Is TCS Laying Off Employees?

    India’s $283 billion IT industry has had to deal with customers delaying non-essential technology purchases due to low demand, ongoing inflation, and lingering trade policy uncertainties from the United States. K. Krithivasan, the CEO of TCS, stated this month that customer decision-making and project start times were delayed. As of June 30, 2025, TCS employed 613,069 people. In the most recent quarter, which ended in April and June, it added 5,000 new staff.

    TCS Financials Amid Layoffs: Q1 2025 Results

    On July 10, TCS announced that its net profit for the June quarter had increased by 6% to INR 12,760 crore. In the same period last year, the Tata group company reported a net profit of INR 12,040 crore. The company’s sales decreased 3% when considering constant currency, although it increased 1.3% to INR 63,437 crore from INR 62,613 crore in the same time last year. According to a corporate statement, its operating profit margin increased by 0.30% on a quarterly basis to 24.5% during the April–June period.

    TCS Responds to Onboarding Delay Concerns

    The largest IT services provider in India, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), has stated that it is still dedicated to onboarding all experts who have been offered positions, despite several reports that experienced hires in various cities have been facing extended delays in their joining dates. TCS can confirm that, as usual, TCS is committed to honouring all offers we have made, whether they are to experienced professionals or freshmen, according to the company’s statement provided to People Matters.

    The company will onboard all of the people who have gotten an offer from TCS. The joining dates are chosen based on company need, and occasionally they are modified to accommodate our demands. In these situations, TCS stays in constant communication with each candidate and hopes they will soon join our team.

    The clarification comes as professionals who claim to have resigned from their prior positions to join TCS, citing official offer letters and specific start dates, are becoming increasingly concerned. Many of these professionals were hired for lateral positions in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Delhi. Their experience ranged from two to eighteen years.   

  • Meta Hires ChatGPT Co-Creator Shengjia Zhao to Lead New AI Superintelligence Lab

    Shengjia Zhao, a co-creator of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, will be the chief scientist of Meta Superintelligence Labs, according to a statement released by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on 25 July. The $14 billion investment in Scale AI is the centrepiece of Zuckerberg’s multibillion-dollar hiring spree in artificial intelligence in recent weeks.

    Zuckerberg revealed a brand-new company in June dubbed Meta Superintelligence Labs, which is composed of leading AI developers and researchers. Although the June message included Zhao’s name among other new staffers, Zuckerberg said that Zhao co-founded the lab and “has been our lead scientist from day one.”

    Shengjia Zhao’s Role and Vision at Superintelligence Lab

    Zhao will collaborate closely with Alexandr Wang, the former CEO of Scale AI who is serving as Meta’s chief artificial intelligence officer, and Zuckerberg. In a social media post, Zuckerberg stated, “Shengjia has already pioneered several breakthroughs, including a new scaling paradigm, and distinguished himself as a leader in the field.” “I’m excited to collaborate closely with him to further his scientific vision.”

    Inside Meta’s Multibillion-Dollar AI Ambitions

    According to Zuckerberg’s June memo, Zhao co-founded ChatGPT and contributed to the development of OpenAI’s GPT-4, micro models, 4.1, and O3. He also served as OpenAI’s lead for synthetic data.

    Employees at Meta Superintelligence Labs will work on foundation models, including the Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Research programs and the open-source Llama family of AI models and products. Earlier this month, Zuckerberg announced that the social media business would invest “hundreds of billions of dollars” in AI compute infrastructure. “The upcoming years will be extremely exciting!” On July 25, Zuckerberg wrote.

    According to the Threads article, Zhao is a co-founder of the lab, which runs independently of FAIR, Meta’s well-established AI research section headed by Yann LeCun, a pioneer in deep learning. According to Zuckerberg, Meta wants to develop “full general intelligence” and make its work publicly available. The AI community has expressed both support and scepticism for this approach.

    Meta vs OpenAI: A New Chapter in the AI Talent War

    In addition to hiring about seven to eight researchers, including well-known figures like Xiaohua Zhai, Trapit Bansal, Alexander Kolesnikov, and Lucas Beyer, Meta has been constantly working on enhancing its Superintelligence Labs with significant financial support and leadership appointments.

    A potential strategic change for OpenAI is also indicated by the recent break, as the company abandons its rapid-fire product release methodology in favour of concentrating more on long-term AGI development.

    In the face of escalating competition and internal restructuring, the internal memo referred to the decision to suspend operations as a “reset”.

    The competition for AI expertise is becoming a defining issue for the major players in the industry as Meta expands its own superintelligence lab and offers previously unthinkable compensation packages.

  • China Proposes Global AI Governance Body to Challenge US Tech Dominance

    In its ongoing competition with the United States for technical supremacy, China has presented a comprehensive strategy to increase its influence in AI governance, which includes the establishment of a global cooperation organisation.

    China Proposes Global AI Oversight Body at WAIC 2025

    During his speech at the inauguration of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai on 26 July, Chinese premier Li Qiang lamented that “bottlenecks” like the availability of computer chips were limiting AI advancement.

    According to Li, there is still a lack of cohesion in the field of global AI governance. When it comes to things like institutional rules and regulatory ideas, there is a world of variation between countries.

    He continued by saying that the international community should work together more closely to quickly establish a global framework for AI governance that can garner widespread support. The establishment of “a world AI cooperation organisation” would be aided by China, he declared.

    Inside China’s 13-Point Plan for AI Regulation

    Following Li’s speech, the foreign ministry released a thirteen-point plan for the international regulation of artificial intelligence. The plan included a safety governance framework, two new UN-sponsored AI conversation venues, and other measures.

    China’s Open-Source Push: LLMs, Chips & Shared Innovation

    The Chinese capital has been touting its “open” innovation and “share indigenous technologies” policies for the past few months. Large language models (LLMs) developed by two of China’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) companies, DeepSeek and Alibaba, are now open-source and accessible to programmers all around the globe.

    Part of China’s strategy is to encourage more sharing of critical software and hardware, including semiconductors, and more cooperation on open-source technologies via new international platforms and developer communities. The United States is worried that China’s superior open-source LLMs would threaten Silicon Valley’s worldwide pricing and dominance because of the country’s cheap tech.

    Global AI Power Play: Tensions With the U.S.

    In light of Washington’s restrictions on shipments to China of sophisticated semiconductors and the machinery used to manufacture AI solutions, as well as its pressure on allies to follow suit, Li’s remarks demonstrate the severe technological rivalry between the two countries.

    A Hangzhou-based company called DeepSeek released an LLM this year, which prompted some to question whether the United States could keep its technological advantage. This shows that China is still making progress.

    According to Li, China is eager to share more of its answers with the world and add more of its wisdom to the governance of artificial intelligence on a global scale. He elaborated by saying that AI will power a new wave of economic expansion. He emphasised China’s desire to “make the achievements of AI development better benefit the world” by sharing technology with southern nations.

    A Geopolitical Showdown Over AI Leadership

    Over the course of the four-day artificial intelligence conference and exhibition, China’s foreign ministry extended invitations to high-ranking officials from over forty nations and international organisations. Compared to 2024, when the conference was mostly attended by Americans, this year’s WAIC has seen an increase in international attendees. Yoshua Bengio of Canada, Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt are among the speakers scheduled to appear.

    China’s strategy follows the White House’s recent announcement of a plan to make the United States the AI industry leader. Accelerating innovation through reducing bureaucracy, constructing infrastructure, and maintaining US leadership in worldwide AI diplomacy and security were the primary goals.