Economic Times Report

• The AI security market is projected to reach nearly $4.8 billion by 2027, reflecting a rapid growth rate of 68.7%. • This surge is driven by increased enterprise investment in AI and the emergence of new vulnerabilities related to AI models and supply-chain attacks. • The rise of specialized tools for AI application security and usage control has led to a growing number of startups entering the sector.

• A report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) indicates that artificial intelligence is becoming a critical competitive advantage for renewable energy companies. • The industry is shifting its strategic focus from simply expanding capacity to maximizing the efficiency and value of existing assets. • AI implementation can potentially increase worker productivity by up to 25% and significantly improve overall energy yields.

• India's tech startups secured $7.2 billion in funding during the first half of 2026, representing a 12% increase compared to the previous year. • Despite the rise in total capital, the number of funding rounds declined sharply as investors shifted focus toward fewer, more mature companies. • Investment trends show a clear preference for deep-tech and infrastructure sectors over consumer-facing businesses, signaling a more disciplined approach to capital.

• Chinese AI lab DeepSeek has closed its first funding round, raising over 50 billion yuan (approximately $7.40 billion). • According to a report from The Information on Tuesday, the investment was secured using an unusual deal structure. • This massive capital injection positions DeepSeek as a significant competitor in the global AI landscape, challenging established players with substantial resources.

• A new report reveals that India's labour productivity gap with China has widened significantly since 2000, despite the country's strong overall GDP growth. • India has failed to achieve the industry-led productivity transformation seen in peer nations like China and South Korea due to structural constraints and pandemic-related disruptions. • This gap matters because it indicates that India's economic growth is not yet driven by a high-efficiency manufacturing leap, limiting its global competitiveness.