Accelerates

• Vietnam's economy grew by 8.39% in the second quarter (April-June), an acceleration from the 7.94% growth recorded in the first quarter. • The growth was primarily driven by strong performance in the construction sector and other key industries, bringing the total first-half rise to 8.18%. • This acceleration is critical as the government aims to reach an ambitious annual economic growth target of 10%.

• Global venture funding reached a record-breaking $510 billion during the first half of the year. • This surge in investment is primarily driven by the accelerating boom in artificial intelligence technologies. • The milestone highlights a massive shift in capital allocation toward AI, signaling strong investor confidence in the sector's long-term scalability.

• The inaugural Accenture AI Progress Barometer reveals that Europe's largest companies are beginning to close the AI readiness gap with North American firms. • AI readiness is defined by critical capabilities, including the availability of high-quality accessible data, a skilled workforce, and optimized organizational processes. • Despite progress among industry leaders, a widening divide between large corporations and smaller firms threatens to hinder the region's overall technological advancement.

• JPMorgan has increased its AI capital spending forecast through 2030, signaling an accelerating investment boom in AI infrastructure. • Growth is primarily driven by "AI upstream" investments in semiconductors, data centers, and supporting hardware. • The U.S. currently dominates the sector, accounting for approximately 85% of all AI and machine learning venture capital.

• The U.S. Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) price index for May met expectations, with headline inflation at 4.1% and core inflation at 3.4%. • Consumer spending rose by 0.7%, exceeding the 0.6% forecast, while personal income accelerated sharply by 0.7%, significantly beating the 0.4% consensus estimate. • This resilience in consumer demand and income growth suggests that households can sustain spending despite elevated borrowing costs.

• Cyberrey warns that AI is accelerating the "cyber kill chain," enabling attackers to execute malicious actions faster than traditional defenses can react. • To counter this threat, companies are urged to shift from reactive security models toward proactive resilience and automated incident response. • The proposed strategy involves using machines to handle repetitive workflows and intelligence channeling, allowing human security operations center (SOC) staff to focus on complex crisis management.

• Amazon will invest an additional $13 billion in India over the next four years, bringing its total planned spending on AI and cloud infrastructure to $21 billion by 2030. • The announcement followed a June 25 meeting in New Delhi between Amazon CEO Andy Jassy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. • Funds will expand AWS data center capacity in Mumbai and Hyderabad, providing Indian startups and government agencies access to custom Trainium chips and AI services.