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What’s New Today: Nvidia’s banned B200 AI chips entered China’s black market, bypassing U.S. export controls through Southeast Asian distributors.
Fast-Track Insights: CandorIQ secures $4.8M to replace HR and finance spreadsheets with a collaborative, AI-powered platform for modern workforce and compensation planning.
Here’s a quick rundown of the biggest tech headlines making waves today. Let's dive into the day's top tech stories, from Nvidia’s advanced B200 AI chips, banned for export to China, to India's IT hiring, which drops sharply amid the automation shift.
Nvidia’s advanced B200 AI chips, banned for export to China, were smuggled into the country via black market routes, totaling over $1 billion in value over three months. The chips were sold by Chinese distributors to data center suppliers, with transactions traced to provinces like Guangdong and Zhejiang. Nvidia noted such products lack official support. The U.S. may expand export restrictions to Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, by September.
CandorIQ, a Y Combinator-backed startup, has raised $4.8 million to replace outdated HR and finance spreadsheets with a unified platform. Founded by Haris Ikram and Sutthipong Thavisomboon, CandorIQ helps companies streamline compensation, headcount planning, and workforce analytics using AI. The platform fosters collaboration between HR, finance, and leadership. With plans to expand into sales commissions management, CandorIQ aims to become the core operating system for modern workforce planning and compensation.
India’s top six IT firms added only 3,847 jobs in Q1 FY26—a 72% drop from the previous quarter. TCS and Infosys reported modest gains, while others like Wipro and HCLTech saw declines. The adoption of AI, automation, and strategic workforce shifts drives the slowdown. Fresher hiring is down nearly 50% from pre-COVID levels. Though H1 2025 shows a slight recovery, industry experts remain cautious about sustained growth amid global uncertainties.
Artificial Intelligence is transforming the global economy by driving automation, boosting productivity, and lowering operational costs. It enhances decision-making, supports AI-driven startups, and reshapes job markets with new skill demands. Governments worldwide are investing heavily in AI programs, while businesses integrate AI into operations and consumer products. The rise of AI is also fueling demand for cloud and edge computing, making it a central force in economic innovation and growth.
BitMine Immersion Technologies acquired 566,776 ETH worth $2.03 billion in 16 days, becoming the largest corporate Ether holder. The company aims to stake 5% of Ether’s total supply, valued at around $22 billion. Its aggressive move outpaced SharpLink and the Ethereum Foundation. Despite surging valuations, analysts express skepticism, suggesting that some firms may be receiving cryptocurrency from insiders instead of buying on exchanges, which raises concerns about the sustainability of the crypto treasury trend.
