What’s New Today: India takes a huge leap by launching its first-ever locally made semiconductor chip under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat plan. Meanwhile, Anduril, a rising name in autonomous defense, has secured $2.5 billion in Series G funding, increasing its valuation to a massive $30.5 billion.
Fast-Track Insights: This chip launch marks a major step in reducing India’s foreign tech dependence. On the other hand, Anduril is now scaling its AI drones and sensors to meet growing global defence needs.
Here’s a quick rundown of the biggest tech headlines making waves today. Let’s dive into India’s tech milestone and Anduril’s powerful funding success.
India has launched its first locally manufactured semiconductor chip, marking a significant milestone in achieving self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, this development enhances India's position in the global semiconductor industry. The achievement highlights India's growing capability in advanced tech and reduces dependence on foreign chip imports.
Autonomous defence startup Anduril announced a $2.5 billion Series G round at a $30.5 billion valuation—more than doubling its previous $14 billion worth. The funding, led by Founders Fund with a $1 billion lead, reflects strong investor demand. Anduril aims to scale its AI-powered drones, sensors, and undersea systems as governments seek agile, cost‑effective defence solutions.
Unemployment among recent graduates has risen to 5.8%, with AI rapidly automating entry-level work, particularly in finance and computer science, according to an analysis by the Federal Reserve and Oxford Economics. Companies are embracing “AI‑first” policies, delaying or cancelling junior hires, and using virtual workers instead. Experts warn that while anecdotes don’t yet signal a full-blown crisis, early signs suggest that AI is already reshaping the job prospects of young professionals.
A trio of affordable yet promising AI stocks—C3.ai, Palantir, and Snowflake—stand out. C3.ai trades around $26, offering pure-play AI exposure. Palantir, at approximately $130, combines AI with stable government contracts. Snowflake provides critical cloud data infrastructure for AI at about $210. Each stock offers distinct access to AI’s expanding market.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong announced a significant overhaul of its machine-learning systems, reducing false account lockouts by 82%. The move addresses prolonged user freeze issues and comes after a data breach that affected over 70,000 accounts. While the change is a positive start, consistency, transparency, and improved support remain key to regaining trader confidence.