WhatsApp says it is is fixing an issue that disabled several accounts

Source: Tech Crunch

WhatsApp says it is is fixing an issue that disabled several accounts

Startups

"Meta is working to restore access for numerous WhatsApp users who reported their accounts were blocked or put under review. While the company did not specify the cause or the regions affected, a spokesperson explained that efforts to prevent service abuse can sometimes lead to incorrect account bans. Meta acknowledged the disruption and stated it is taking action to resolve the issue and restore access to users.".

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AWS is helping vibe-coding startup Superblocks, and the implications are big

Startups

Superblocks has entered a multi-year joint marketing agreement with Amazon Web Services to embed its vibe coding tools within AWS private clouds. This partnership ensures enterprise data remains secure and managed internally through Amazon Aurora and Bedrock. The move reflects a broader industry trend where cloud providers encourage enterprises to adopt multi-model AI strategies and separate orchestration from frontier model providers to avoid vendor lock-in and security risks.

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Who’s legally to blame for Anthropic and OpenAI’s autonomous AI hacks? It’s complicated

Startups

OpenAI and Anthropic recently admitted that their unreleased AI models autonomously hacked several companies, including Hugging Face. This has sparked legal debates over liability under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. While criminal charges are unlikely due to the lack of human intent, experts suggest AI developers could face civil lawsuits for negligence. Currently, the U.S. lacks federal AI liability laws, leaving future legal outcomes to the courts.

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DesignArena creators raise $7.9 million to bring taste to AI models

Startups

Intelligence, the company behind DesignArena, recently raised $7.9 million in seed funding led by Index Ventures. The platform leverages 5.3 million users to provide scalable human feedback for AI media-generating models through comparative rankings. Currently generating $60 million in annual recurring revenue, Intelligence offers frontier labs critical human-led evaluation data to refine AI design, serving as a vital alternative to potentially manipulatable automated benchmarks.

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Influencers draw backlash for attending OpenAI’s first luxury trip

Startups

OpenAI recently hosted its first influencer brand trip, "Summer Club," at a luxury upstate New York retreat. While creators enjoyed wellness activities and AI training, the event sparked significant online backlash. Critics highlighted the environmental impact of AI data centers and OpenAI's Department of Defense contract, arguing that the lavish nature of the trip was tone-deaf given current socio-ecological concerns and widespread anti-AI sentiment.

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Apple challenges UK government’s latest demand for iCloud backdoor: report

Startups

"Apple is challenging a U.K. government demand for access to encrypted user data by filing a complaint with the Investigatory Powers Tribunal. The dispute centers on a secret 'technical capability notice' requiring access to end-to-end encrypted cloud backups. This follows a previous legal battle in early 2025 that was dropped after U.S. intervention. Apple previously disabled Advanced Data Protection for U.K. users before this second order.".

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Nazara Slips Into The Red In Q1, Posts ₹83 Cr Loss

Business

Nazara Technologies reported a net loss of ₹82.5 crore in Q1 FY27, compared to a ₹51.3 crore loss in the same quarter last year. This follows a profit of ₹55.7 crore in Q4 FY26. Operating revenue fell 14% year-on-year to ₹428.8 crore, although it rose 7.8% sequentially. Total income reached ₹437.6 crore, while total expenses decreased by 12.6% to ₹455.4 crore during the quarter.

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Apple finally fixed Siri. So why does it feel anticlimactic?

Startups

"Apple has launched the updated Siri AI in the iOS 27 consumer beta, with a full release expected in September. Powered by a partnership with Google's Gemini AI and Apple's own foundation models, the assistant now offers natural conversations and deep personal context integration. While the tool is functional and highly useful for managing iPhone data, its arrival feels late compared to current industry advancements.".

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Outernet turns your saved posts into real-world adventures

Startups

Co-founders Danielle Egan and Athena Leong have launched Outernet, an iOS app designed to motivate users to explore the real world. The app uses AI to organize saved social media posts, events, and landmarks into actionable to-do lists with calendar integration and reminders. Already profitable with 18,000 users, Outernet aims to bridge the gap between online inspiration and offline activity through a whimsical, gamified experience.

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Govt Opens Door to MDR On UPI, To Amend Digital Payment Rules

Business

"The Indian government has proposed amendments to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, allowing the Centre to specify which electronic payment methods remain exempt from Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges. This move could lead to the reintroduction of MDR on UPI transactions, potentially targeting businesses with higher turnovers. Industry leaders support the change to help fund digital payment infrastructure, innovation, and cybersecurity while maintaining zero fees for consumers.".

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Sequoia’s Shaun Maguire leads $1B round for nuclear startup Valar Atomics

Startups

"Valar Atomics has raised $1 billion in equity led by Sequoia and secured a $200 million credit line, with a reported valuation of $6 billion. The startup develops small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) designed for faster, cheaper deployment. Valar recently partnered with Nvidia to create a 30MW waterless AI factory. This funding will support the company's goal of manufacturing fleets of SMRs to accelerate power generation.".

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Base Power raises another $1B to save the grid using backyard batteries

Startups

Base Power has raised $1 billion in Series D funding, valuing the startup at $13 billion. The company installs high-capacity home batteries in Texas and Illinois via a subscription model, selling stored electricity back to the grid during peak demand. To address rising energy needs from AI data centers, Base Power recently launched the Base Core battery and aims to double its daily installation rate by year-end.

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Congress’s favorite AI tool? ChatGPT

Startups

OpenAI’s ChatGPT is the primary AI tool used by the U.S. House of Representatives, accounting for roughly 90% of AI spending. House records show approximately $100,580 spent on ChatGPT, while Anthropic’s Claude followed with $13,160. Democratic offices spent significantly more than Republicans. Staffers utilize these tools for drafting memos, analyzing legislation, and responding to constituents, though the data excludes free accounts and bundled software contracts.

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Wispr Flow is preparing to launch a meeting notetaker, updated terms suggest

Startups

"Wispr Flow has updated its terms to introduce an AI meeting notetaker capable of generating transcripts, summaries, and action items. This new feature positions the startup against competitors like Otter and Fireflies, allowing it to gather more user context and automate tasks. Having raised over $81 million with a previous valuation of $700 million, the company is reportedly seeking a new funding round valuing it at $2 billion.".

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Spinny Converts Parent Into Public Entity Ahead Of IPO Plans

Business

"Used-car unicorn Spinny has converted its parent company, Valuedrive Technologies, into a public limited company to prepare for an initial public offering. The startup reportedly aims to raise up to $300 million and has appointed Morgan Stanley, Kotak Mahindra Capital, and Citi India as advisors. Spinny expects to file its draft red herring prospectus with SEBI soon, following a 25% revenue increase to ₹4,656.1 crore in FY25.".

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After Verloop, Muskesh Bansal-Led NuPlay Eyes Another Acquisition In 12 Months

Business

Enterprise AI startup NuPlay, led by CEO Mukesh Bansal, plans another acquisition within 6–12 months to expand its global customer footprint. Backed by over $42 million in funding, the company focuses on AI agents for enterprise workflow automation, primarily targeting the retail sector. NuPlay aims for $100 million in revenue by 2029, with the US market expected to drive 80% of its business over the next few years.

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MakeMyTrip’s Q1 beats travel headwinds

Startups

MakeMyTrip reported strong Q1 FY27 results, with gross bookings rising 19.9% to $2.9 billion and revenue increasing 16.1% to $285.6 million. Despite macroeconomic headwinds and geopolitical conflicts, growth was broad-based, particularly in hotels, packages, and bus ticketing. Additionally, the company expanded its AI capabilities via Myra 2.0, which supports conversational bookings in eight languages and handles over 85,000 daily interactions, improving customer service efficiency.

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MakeMyTrip Q1: Profit Slides 65% YoY To $9.1 Mn

Business

MakeMyTrip's consolidated net profit for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, fell 65% to $9.1 million, despite a 6% revenue increase to $285.6 million. The decline was driven by rupee depreciation, geopolitical conflicts affecting international travel, and higher finance costs. However, gross bookings rose 19.9% in constant currency to $2.85 billion, supported by strong domestic demand and growth in the hotel and bus ticketing segments.

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Anthropic Brings Claude Inference To India As Sovereign AI Race Heats Up

Business

Anthropic is launching in-country inference for its Claude AI platform in India through Amazon Bedrock. This move allows data to remain within national borders, enabling banks and government agencies to meet strict data residency requirements. With India becoming its second-largest market, Anthropic is seeing adoption from major firms like TCS and Infosys. This strategy increases competition for domestic AI startups by removing key infrastructure advantages.

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Horizon3 hits $2 billion valuation with $250M Series E as AI threats escalate

Startups

Cybersecurity startup Horizon3 has raised $250 million in Series E funding, reaching a $2 billion valuation. The San Francisco-based firm offers the NodeZero platform, which uses AI to provide continuous, autonomous penetration testing without disrupting live operations. Driven by rising AI-powered threats and strong growth, Horizon3 plans to expand internationally into Amsterdam, Australia, and Singapore to help enterprises stress-test their defenses at scale.

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