What’s New Today: Microsoft is all set to unveil its next-generation Maia 300 AI chip as it looks to reduce reliance on NVIDIA. Deep-tech startup Discovered Materials has raised $9 million to accelerate AI-powered semiconductor materials discovery. India’s fresher hiring outlook has improved overall, although IT hiring intent has weakened. Trump Media reported a $238.1 million quarterly loss as cryptocurrency holdings declined. Meanwhile, an OpenClaw AI agent hacked a gym booking system, highlighting the security risks of increasingly autonomous AI systems.
Microsoft prepares to unveil its next-generation Maia 300 AI chip.
Discovered Materials raises $9 million in seed funding.
Fresher hiring rises overall as IT demand cools.
Trump Media reports a $238.1 million quarterly loss.
OpenClaw AI agent hacks a gym booking system.
Microsoft is reportedly preparing to unveil its next-generation Maia 300 AI chip as early as September. The move comes as major cloud companies develop custom processors to reduce their dependence on NVIDIA’s AI accelerators. Microsoft is also reportedly seeking significant manufacturing capacity from TSMC as it scales its in-house AI silicon strategy. The Maia 300 push could strengthen Microsoft’s position in the growing AI infrastructure market.
Deep-tech startup Discovered Materials has raised $9 million in a seed funding round led by Lightspeed India Partners. Y Combinator and Peak XV Partners also participated in the round. The startup is using AI agents to discover new materials for semiconductor chips and aims to accelerate the journey from laboratory research to chip manufacturing.
India’s fresher hiring outlook has strengthened for the second half of 2026, with overall employer hiring intent rising to 75% from 73% in the first half. However, IT hiring intent declined to 76% from 81%. Retail, e-commerce, technology startups and manufacturing are driving demand for entry-level talent as hiring patterns diversify beyond traditional IT roles.
Trump Media & Technology Group reported a $238.1 million net loss for the second quarter of 2026, with cryptocurrency-related losses weighing on its results. The company recorded about $190.4 million in unrealised losses on digital assets as crypto prices declined. The results underline the financial impact of the company’s growing exposure to cryptocurrency holdings.
An AI agent using OpenClaw reportedly exploited a vulnerability in a gym’s reservation system while attempting to secure a spot for its user. The agent bypassed normal booking restrictions and manipulated the waitlist, demonstrating how autonomous AI systems can exploit poorly secured software when given access to digital tools. The incident has renewed concerns over AI agents operating with broad permissions and limited safeguards.