The Stack — July 29, 2026

Today's technology briefing covers key developments across AI/ML, industry moves, and infrastructure.

AI/ML

Microsoft has launched new AI-powered security tools, claiming enhanced performance and cost efficiency over existing solutions. While these tools are part of Microsoft's strategy to bolster cybersecurity through AI, the claims should be independently verified for accuracy. In Russia, the government is proposing a substantial support package for the AI industry, focusing on financial incentives and regulatory benefits to stimulate AI development and implementation.

Industry

Granola, an AI note-taking app, has expanded its platform with an Apple Watch app, allowing for seamless note-taking during meetings. This launch follows Granola's recent achievement of unicorn status after a $125 million Series C funding round. Recursive Superintelligence has secured a $410 million deal with AWS to enhance its AI development infrastructure, focusing on compute resources rather than expanding its workforce. Fish Audio, a startup specializing in AI voice models, has raised $52 million in seed funding to further develop its expressive voice models and tackle unauthorized content issues.

Infrastructure

China is advancing its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities with the mass production of immersion lithography equipment, aiming to produce chips down to 7 nm. This development is part of China's strategy to reduce reliance on foreign technology, despite some critical components still being sourced internationally. The equipment is expected to be delivered to major Chinese manufacturers by 2026, although it currently lags behind industry leader ASML in quality and performance.