Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Hong Kong's exchange ranked second globally in H1 2026, raising $26.4B. Mainland Chinese firms dominated, with AI chip and food companies leading the charge.

OpenAI has discussed handing a 5% equity stake to the U.S. government, with other AI firms expected to follow. The proposal signals a novel approach to AI oversight through direct ownership.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has denied a report that the company developed an AI-powered smartphone prototype, calling it 'utterly false.' The claim, which suggested a device thinner than an iPhone with xAI integration, remains unverified.

Super Micro faces mounting legal heat as Taiwan detains two staff in a probe over alleged illegal AI server exports. The investigation spans multiple companies and connects to a U.S. smuggling case.

For three years, constables in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar range allegedly stole Rs 2 crore by inflating their own pay. AI analysis of 2,000 salary records finally exposed the scheme, leading to arrests and a new era of algorithmic oversight in government payrolls.

The U.S. government is finalizing voluntary standards for AI model releases with major tech companies. The move aims to boost safety and transparency while Congress stalls on regulation.

Hong Kong’s market is set for a $100 billion wave of newly tradable shares as lock-up periods expire, threatening to deepen its underperformance amid a global AI investment surge that is bypassing the city’s tech-heavy index.

Together AI has raised $800 million in a funding round led by Aramco Ventures, more than doubling its valuation to $8.3 billion. The startup's platform enables companies to train and run AI workloads on open models at lower costs than closed systems.

Digital infrastructure firm ITG saw shares jump 12.5% in its Nasdaq debut, valuing the Oaktree-backed company at $2.18 billion. The IPO reflects strong investor demand for AI-linked infrastructure, though revenue concentration with Comcast and Charter poses risks.

In the AI era, the US-China rivalry is less about resources and more about institutional agility. Geopolitical expert Marco Vicenzino explains why the nation that adapts fastest will lead.

Meta Platforms is building a cloud computing service to sell excess AI infrastructure, according to a Bloomberg report. The initiative could reduce reliance on advertising and pit the company against cloud giants like Amazon and Microsoft.

Cigna’s Evernorth unit is betting $100 million on AI to fix the slow, costly specialty pharmacy process. Pharmacy Forward aims to cut prescription wait times and improve service for complex patients.

Oxmiq, led by ex-Intel architect Raja Koduri, raised $35M to create a unified chip design that combines graphics, processing, and tensor engines. The startup aims to license the IP, reducing AI chip costs and competing with Broadcom and Marvell.

Record outflows hit South Korea and Taiwan as the AI rally concentrated gains in three chipmakers. Investors rebalanced, taking profits and hunting for value elsewhere in Asia.

The global AI wave powered Asia's manufacturing sector in June, with China, Japan, and South Korea reporting expansion. Robust tech demand offset the Iran conflict's drag, but elevated price pressures signal potential energy shock ahead.

Hong Kong's tech chief warns AI will exceed all previous industrial revolutions, impacting graduates and traditional sectors. The city is launching a HK$50M education programme and developing proprietary LLMs to prepare for the paradigm shift.

European equities rally as oil drops near $70 on Iran ceasefire, but strategists warn this is no lasting shift from U.S. stocks, where AI-fueled earnings keep Wall Street firmly in the lead. Fund flows and structural challenges reinforce the transatlantic divide.

Sixth Street vice chairman Martin Chavez criticizes the U.S. approach to AI regulation as opaque and inconsistent. Speaking at Reuters Momentum AI London, he warns that model-by-model oversight creates uncertainty and risks.

Maharashtra will form an expert committee within a month to recommend rules for AI-powered smart glasses, responding to privacy risks in sensitive locations. The panel’s four-month timeline faces scrutiny as global concerns over wearable surveillance grow.

India’s central bank warns that AI disruption and geopolitical fragmentation are elevating external shock risks, even as domestic banks show record-low bad loans. Stress tests reveal hidden vulnerabilities that could surface under adverse scenarios.

Global markets gained $7 trillion in H1 2026, overcoming a $9 trillion Iran war shock. An AI surge in Asia and a yen crisis are reshaping risks, while gold and tech giants falter.

IIT Bombay and SBI Life Insurance have established the Bharat AI & Cyber Innovation Hub to create homegrown AI-powered cybersecurity solutions for India's insurance industry. The initiative aims to reduce foreign tech dependence while training the next generation of specialists.

China’s leadership held dual meetings to address the widening gap between its thriving AI and export sectors and sluggish domestic consumption. The talks highlighted new growth drivers and structural risks, with calls for expanded imports and investment.

The US stock market's second-half outlook hinges on AI spending returns, stretched earnings targets, and a hawkish new Fed chair. Investor caution is rising after June pullbacks.

India is poised to shape the AI era with unique strengths in talent, regulatory openness, infrastructure, and clean energy. The country must now move from potential to scaled deployment to become an indispensable global AI node.

Amazon Web Services is increasing prices for reserved AI GPUs by 20% on July 1, the second hike this year. A shortage of high-bandwidth memory is capping GPU production, driving up costs across the tech industry.

Tech journalist Joanna Stern spent a full year letting AI run her life—from driving to dating. Her new book, I Am Not a Robot, reveals surprising wins and awkward failures, offering a balanced look at how close the AI future really is.

A single AI data center can need 50,000 tons of copper, driving prices to record highs. With supply unable to keep pace, investors are treating copper as a new AI proxy trade and inflation hedge.

OpenAI is considering delaying its IPO to 2027 to chase a $1 trillion valuation, as a 2026 listing risks falling short. The move comes amid competitive pressure from Anthropic and massive planned spending on computing.

Nicholas Spiro of Lauressa Advisory challenges the view that AI will hurt Asia's real estate sector. He points to tight supply, young demographics, and a booming data center market as reasons for resilience.