Ex-Peak XV trio launches Mettle Capital, targets $350–400 million fund to back Indian startups

Three former Peak XV Partners, Ashish Agrawal, Ishaan Mittal, and Tejeshwi Sharma, have launched Mettle Capital. The new venture capital fund aims to raise $350-400 million. Mettle Capital will invest in Indian startups at Series A and B stages, with selective seed bets. The fund plans to close its fundraising within the next quarter and begin deploying capital by September-October.

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OpenAI chief Altman has over $2 billion stake in companies that dealt with OpenAI: court filing

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's significant investments in companies doing business with his AI firm have come under scrutiny. Court documents revealed stakes worth over $2 billion. State attorneys general and Elon Musk have raised self-dealing claims. A congressional investigation is also underway. Altman has denied wrongdoing, stating he recused himself from key decisions.

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Board nomination framework changes part of effort to achieve Indian-owned company status: Swiggy

Swiggy has announced upcoming adjustments to its board nomination policies as part of its strategy to establish itself as an Indian owned and controlled company. This initiative is designed to align with foreign exchange compliance requirements.

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Meta offers rival AI chatbots free access to WhatsApp for a month

Meta Platforms is offering rival AI chatbots free access to its WhatsApp messaging service for one month. This move comes as Meta discusses commitments with EU antitrust regulators. The European Commission had indicated it was inclined to order Meta to provide such access. Previously, Meta had restricted its own AI assistant to WhatsApp, later proposing a fee for rivals.

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Anthropic expands Claude's AI tools for law firms, lawyers

Artificial intelligence (AI) company Anthropic has launched new tools for lawyers using its Claude AI assistant. These features offer specialized legal topic support and access to other legal research and AI products. Law firms can now securely connect Claude with platforms like Thomson Reuters for research and document management.

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Netflix sued by Texas for allegedly spying on children, addicting users

Texas has sued Netflix. The state attorney general claims the streaming giant spied on children and consumers. Netflix allegedly collected data without consent and designed its platform to be addictive. The company is accused of tracking viewing habits and selling them for profit. Texas seeks to stop this practice and impose fines.

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Starbucks to cut 61 technology jobs in Seattle

Starbucks is making headlines with the announcement of 61 tech job reductions at its Seattle HQ, signaling a pivotal phase in the company’s transformation journey. These layoffs align with an overarching strategy to sharpen focus on elevating customer experiences and driving revenue growth. This decision comes after prior restructuring efforts, including the closure of some locations.

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IT rules amendments may create obligations outside law: Nasscom

Industry body Nasscom and digital rights groups argue that draft IT second amendment rules shouldn't create new obligations outside the IT Act's framework. Concerns are raised that advisories could become binding, bypassing parliamentary review and leading to over-censorship. The rules' extension to ordinary users and AI-generated content also sparks significant technical and legal questions.

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Fervent and fake: High-glam AI avatars boost Trump ahead of midterms

Clad in swimsuits or military fatigues, the blonde women lavish praise on President Donald Trump and tear into his rivals -- but these influencers are AI-generated, flooding tech platforms with fervent political messaging ahead of the US midterm election.

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HC protects MP Shashi Tharoor's personality rights, directs removal of deepfake video

The Delhi High Court has protected Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's personality rights. The court ordered X to remove an AI-generated deepfake video showing him praising Pakistan. It also restrained the misuse of his name, image, and voice for any purpose. Meta was asked to keep certain Instagram reels inaccessible. This order safeguards Tharoor's reputation and India's international standing.

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Alibaba to integrate Qwen AI with Taobao, launch agentic shopping, source says

Alibaba is set to launch a new way to shop. Its AI platform Qwen will connect with Taobao. Consumers can chat with the AI to find and buy products. This aims to change how people shop online. The AI will offer recommendations and handle services. This move highlights China's advanced AI integration in e-commerce.

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