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The U.S. plans to tell dozens of countries they must pick sides in the AI race with China. Officials warned that nations joining Beijing’s framework face exclusion from the U.S.-led Pax Silica coalition. The letter says, “To be part of everything is to be part of nothing,” urging countries to choose.
Stripe plans to acquire AI start-up OpenRouter for $7 billion. Founded in 2023, the company provides access to hundreds of AI models for developers. As of May, OpenRouter served eight million developers who use its services to build agentic software. The firm has raised over $150 million in total capital.
The Economic Times Startup Awards 2026 unveiled a high-powered jury to pick this year’s winners. The team reached out to many top entrepreneurs to compile the list. The jury will meet in Bengaluru on August 25 to select the final winners after long deliberations and secret voting by the members.
Stripe Inc. finalized an agreement to acquire OpenRouter Inc. for more than $7 billion. This deal gives the payments firm a stronger footing in the artificial intelligence sector. OpenRouter helps companies switch between AI models to find affordable options. The startup currently serves 8 million developers who use its services.
A newly hired AI developer at an MNC said he has not been handed any work since joining. Despite attending team calls and asking his manager for tasks, he remains idle. The techie shared his frustration online, noting, "It's good until it isn't," as users warned him about potential layoffs.
A survey of 1,509 smartphone users found that 53% of Indians bought new phones early due to broken glass. Conducted in late 2025, the study showed that 87% of people dropped their devices last year. Andrew Beck said, "Durability is no longer a secondary specification. It's central to the overall device experience."
Quick Heal Chairman Kailash Katkar shared his journey from repairing calculators to building a global cybersecurity firm. He said, "The biggest learning was that trust is built one customer at a time." Katkar started the company with his brother and took it public in 2016, always prioritizing customer satisfaction.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Sunday (August 16, 2026) urged national law universities to lead in shaping how technology reshapes the legal system. He said, “Academic integrity and the responsible use of artificial intelligence must become important components of curriculum and pedagogy.” Law schools must guide this inevitable transformation.
IT firms are launching multi-crore programmes to secure core operations after a surge in cyberattacks. Last week, TCS and HCLTech informed stock exchanges that hackers attempted to steal employee information. Companies like Infosys and Coforge now use Minimum Business Viability assessments to protect data and avoid costly legal disputes ahead.
The government may step in to help consumers crack the AI chatbot maze. Officials said the department of consumer affairs is examining how companies use these systems. Many people find it hard to reach a human executive. The government plans to direct companies to improve their grievance-handling mechanisms very soon.