4988: No AI toys: PM’s missive to Foundational AI startups; India’s Financial Intelligence Units releases fresh guidelines for crypto assets; and Gaurav Munjal's startup plans in limbo after M&A falls through | MC Tech3

Benchmark indices fall on Trump’s tariff threats but retail investors remain strong, there’s a significant shift in how India manages its forex reserves, India may begin largescale purchases of Venezuelan crude if US lifts sanctions, investors continue to seek safety in gold & PM Modi urges startups to think big - all this and much more in the latest Moneycontrol Editor’s Picks. Tune in.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we bring you a big message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to AI startups on thinking beyond “AI toys” and building for India-scale impact. We also unpack stricter compliance norms for crypto firms, the fallout of the stalled Unacademy–UpGrad deal, and why data centre operators are pitching energy-focused incentives ahead of Budget 2026.

In an exclusive to Moneycontrol, actor-turned-entrepreneur Samantha Prabhu reveals that she found fresh confidence after building startups. Also inside: a mega deal in the wealth management space, what’s driving domestic investors to bet on Indian markets, the poor tipping practice in the gig economy space, the iPhone style push for domestic auto parts exports and more. Tune in!

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we break down why acquisition talks between Unacademy and upGrad fell apart after months of negotiations, even as consolidation buzz continues in edtech. We also look at why merchants are sticking with UPI Autopay despite falling success rates, and what’s driving that choice. Plus, a quick wrap on Amagi’s IPO, marked by a valuation reset and a smaller issue size as it heads to public markets.

In an exclusive to Moneycontrol, actor-turned-entrepreneur Samantha Prabhu reveals that she found fresh confidence after building startups. Also inside: a mega deal in the wealth management space, what’s driving domestic investors to bet on Indian markets, the poor tipping practice in the gig economy space, the iPhone style push for domestic auto parts exports and more. Tune in!

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we break down why tipping on food delivery apps remains a niche behaviour in India and what the numbers really say about rider earnings. We also look at Wispr Flow’s bet on voice-first AI inspired by Iron Man’s Jarvis, actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s growing startup portfolio, and why artificial intelligence and data centres could take centre stage in the Union Budget for FY27.

In this edition of Moneycontrol Editor’s Picks find out what’s happening from markets to government policy and more. Inside: India keeps bullion out of FTAs, rapid adoption of crypto SIPs, IIT Madras emerges preferred consultancy for deep tech investors, energy markets keep close watch on Venezuela, & semiconductor industry presents wishlist to government ahead of the Budget. Tune in!

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we track how deep tech venture capital is increasingly turning to IIT Madras for technical diligence as consultancy revenues surge. We also look at the sharp rise in crypto SIPs among first-time Indian investors, key expectations from the semiconductor industry ahead of Budget 2026, and Zepto’s quiet rollout of in-app UPI payments as delivery platforms bring payments in-house.

In this edition of Moneycontrol Editor’s Picks our reporters decode the Venezuelan crisis. From India’s low exposure to Venezuelan crude to the shift to power-based hierarchies and India’s place in such a world, find all the coverage you need on this crucial unfolding geopolitical event. In other news, large taxpayers may soon move to fully automated tax filing, is Madhya Pradesh’s performance on water quality really spotless, and find out how Google search is being edged out by AI competitors. We also work out how much gig workers really earn and more, so tune in!

On this episode of Tech 3 Podcast, we break down earnings of delivery partners at platforms such as Zomato and Swiggy, discuss why more ad dollars are flowing to AI chatbots like Gemini, ChatGPT, Perplexity, list the key asks of space tech startups ahead of the Union Budget and tell you why Q3 is going to be a muted quarter for Indian IT firms. Listen in: