Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Corporate borrowing for AI is breaking records across currencies and deal structures. Amazon and Alphabet lead a $60 billion bond blitz, while new lease-backed notes test investor appetite as spending nears $725 billion.

OpenAI’s new report maps AI’s potential labor market impact across the EU, identifying four occupational archetypes and highlighting stark country-level differences. It urges policymakers to use granular data for proactive planning rather than waiting for headline unemployment shifts.

Surging AI bills are upending corporate strategies, driving a shift from premium models to cost-effective alternatives. Tech CEOs now champion smaller models for most tasks, as usage-based pricing delivers budget shocks and open-source gains ground.

Asian markets traded choppily on Monday as investors weighed AI-driven growth against rising cost pressures, with South Korea's KOSPI sliding further and Taiwan's rally pausing. A fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire added to the uncertainty, keeping oil prices and the dollar elevated.

AWS CEO Matt Garman rejects predictions that AI will wipe out half of entry-level jobs, calling them overblown. He reveals Amazon’s plan to hire 11,000 new graduates, arguing their energy and adaptability are essential even as the company cuts thousands of roles.

Investment banking analysts face an AI revolution that can build models in seconds, but senior dealmakers insist the two-year analyst programme will endure. Trust issues and cost structures protect the juniors, though the job's grueling hours may persist.

Kunlunxin, Baidu’s AI chip unit, is seeking a $50 billion valuation in its Hong Kong IPO—a 17-fold jump from December. The move highlights extreme AI market exuberance and a disconnect with Baidu’s own stock.

Brokerages see Chinese stocks rising further in H2 2026, fueled by AI tech strength and energy transition benefits. Earnings growth and household inflows support the bullish case.

South Korea’s president announces three mega-projects for AI and chips, including a $651 billion semiconductor hub in the southwest. The plan aims to boost growth and narrow regional gaps, but faces political criticism and infrastructure challenges.

Indian markets fell 8-10% in 2026, but AI-linked hardware and power firms soared. Foreign investors boosted stakes in these invisible enablers of the global AI boom.

Baidu's AI chip unit Kunlunxin is planning a Hong Kong IPO at a $50 billion valuation, with investors required to buy chips worth 3-7x their share subscription. The move highlights China's push for semiconductor self-sufficiency but raises questions about demand and valuation.

Austria is urging the EU to host Anthropic's advanced AI models within its borders, countering new U.S. restrictions on foreign access. The initiative aims to secure European access to frontier AI and boost digital sovereignty.

Firmus Technologies and Nvidia have signed a strategic partnership to provide cost-effective AI computing power. The deal leverages immersion cooling to reduce energy costs, targeting emerging AI companies in Australia and beyond.

The BIS Annual Economic Report highlights rising global risks from AI-driven overinvestment, record public debt, and financial fragilities. Policymakers face urgent calls to reinforce stability through coordinated action.

Google has capped Meta's access to its Gemini AI models due to overwhelming demand, causing project delays. The move reveals deep infrastructure constraints even among tech giants.

Hong Kong is investing heavily in AI infrastructure, but high electricity costs and a narrow focus raise questions about its global competitiveness. Regina Ip calls for a broader vision and more realistic goals.

LLM-powered knowledge bases are transforming how individuals and companies store and retrieve context. This article breaks down automated capture strategies and compares grep-based versus embedding-based inference for maximum impact.

A new PwC study shows AI-exposed entry-level jobs now require skills like strategic decision-making once reserved for veterans. The infrastructure to support graduates hasn't kept pace, creating a critical skills gap.

OpenAI has hired former Uber India President Prabhjeet Singh as its managing director for India. He will lead consumer growth, enterprise adoption, and partnerships starting September.

Swiss financial regulators issue a stark warning: AI-powered cyber threats demand an immediate shift to AI-driven oversight. Global watchdogs scramble to close vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them.

Samsung Group plans a $648 billion investment in South Korea over the next decade to harness the AI chip boom for nationwide growth. The move sparks debate over regional development, political motives, and the feasibility of building a new chip hub in the southwest.

Italy will join the U.S.-led Pax Silica AI supply chain initiative, a foreign ministry official confirmed, despite a public rift between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Donald Trump. The move underscores Rome's strategic bet on AI resilience amid geopolitical headwinds.

Apple has raised prices on several iPad and MacBook models, citing surging memory costs driven by AI data center demand. The increases highlight a broader supply crunch that even Apple's supply chain can't avoid.

Chinese onshore tech IPOs are on track for their strongest year since 2023, fueled by Beijing's push for AI and semiconductor self-reliance. Memory-chip maker CXMT and AI firm Zhipu AI are among those planning massive domestic listings.

Malaysian customs thwarted a $13 million AI chip smuggling attempt at Kuala Lumpur airport, seizing 72 servers falsely declared as computer components. The case reveals mounting pressure on regional hubs to enforce U.S.-led export controls.

Asian stock markets suffered steep losses as Apple's 20% price hike confirmed a worsening AI-driven chip shortage. South Korea's tax proposal added fuel, triggering a massive sell-off in tech and semiconductor stocks.

OpenAI is weighing a delay of its highly anticipated IPO until 2027, according to a New York Times report. The move reflects market pressures and internal strategic recalibration.

The Orissa High Court awarded Rs 20 lakh each to two SBI sweepers retrenched after nearly 30 years, citing their slim chances of finding work in the AI era. The ruling substitutes regularisation with compensation, reflecting judicial unease over automation's impact on vulnerable workers.

Kioxia's 12% plunge on Friday highlights how AI stock fortunes hinge on sentiment after a report that OpenAI may delay its IPO. The Japanese chipmaker's own U.S. listing plans now face a tougher backdrop.

Global markets are reeling as AI investment euphoria meets reality. South Korea's Kospi plunged 10%, leading a sharp sell-off that echoes the dotcom bubble. With inflation rising and monetization in doubt, the AI boom faces its toughest test yet.