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Ha Jung-woo Returns to Korea's AI Policy Leadership
South Korea has reshuffled its AI policy leadership, appointing Ha Jung-woo as vice chairman of the National AI Strategy Committee. This move aims to solidify the country's position as a top-three global AI power. Rep. Lee Hae-min, an IT specialist from the Rebuilding Korea Party, was named senior presidential secretary for AI and future planning, marking a rare opposition figure appointment to a core advisory role. Additionally, Lee Won-joo, an energy policy expert, will serve in the newly created post of presidential adviser for mega projects. These appointments reflect President Lee Jae-myung's administration's commitment to advancing national AI capabilities and integrating energy policy with large-scale projects.
NAVER Blog Push Pays Off as AI Briefing Citations Double
NAVER's AI Briefing, an artificial intelligence search summary service, saw citations of content from its "Mate" creators surge by 114% between May and July. The company reported that citations rose from 626.23 million in May to 1.33926 billion in July. This increase follows the launch of the NAVER Mate program in June, which provides grants of up to 10.3 million won to 3,000 creators monthly for consistently posting high-quality content across NAVER's blog, cafe, Knowledge iN, and Premium Content services. The program aims to strengthen both AI search capabilities and user-generated content, with NAVER attributing the growth to increased activity from core creators. NAVER plans to expand the program by factoring in citations from its conversational AI search feature and extending eligibility to short-form video creators within the year.
AI Reads Rival Vessels' Intent With 90% Accuracy, China Coast Guard Study Says
A study by the China Coast Guard Academy found that using artificial intelligence in disputed maritime zones could reduce the chance of weapons use to 0%, down from 0.3% under existing command systems. The research, published in the Chinese journal Command Control and Simulation, simulated "gray zone" confrontations where Chinese coast guard vessels protected fishing boats from foreign ships. The AI system accurately judged the intent of approaching vessels 89.6% of the time, a significant improvement over the 68.5% accuracy of current systems. This AI approach combines radar tracks and sensor data with causal analysis to assess probabilities of vessel intent, such as navigation, probing, or collision attempts.
Hanwha Hosts Space Conference, Calls for "Korean SpaceX"
Hanwha Group recently hosted a space conference in Seoul, gathering experts like science communicator Gwedo and KAIST aerospace engineering professor Chun Eun-ji. The event focused on the shifting paradigm of the global space industry, moving from government-led to private-sector initiatives. Speakers emphasized the need for South Korea to develop its own "Korean SpaceX" to lead the country's space endeavors. Hanwha Group plans to invest 55 trillion won ($40 billion) in aerospace and AI industries by 2040 to build an integrated space infrastructure. This includes independent launch vehicles, satellite networks, and defense AI, with a focus on creating an industrial belt across key South Korean locations.
Samsung Electronics, SK hynix's corporate tax tops $8.1 bil. in H1
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix paid a combined 11.2 trillion won (8.1 billion USD) in corporate taxes during the first half of this year. This figure represents a 167 percent increase from the previous year, making it the second-highest first-half total on record for the two South Korean semiconductor giants. The substantial tax payments reflect a strong performance driven by the ongoing semiconductor supercycle. Market analysts anticipate further increases in tax contributions as both companies reported significantly higher operating profits for the period, with Samsung at 146.7 trillion won and SK hynix at 98.2 trillion won.
JD.com’s US$1.3b expansion could test Hong Kong’s footfall-driven retail property model
JD.com is expanding its presence in Hong Kong with a HK$10 billion (US$1.3 billion) investment in stores, warehouses, and logistics facilities. This move is part of a broader HK$35 billion commitment to the city across various business sectors, including retail and technology. Analysts suggest this strategy could challenge Hong Kong's traditional property model, which has historically valued real estate based on footfall and location. JD.com's approach focuses on building a network that prioritizes efficient goods movement over prime retail frontage, potentially redefining property valuation metrics in the city.
Caterpillar is bringing to AI deployment what it learned from automating mining
Caterpillar is applying its decades of experience in automating mining operations to the broader deployment of artificial intelligence. The industrial giant has developed an AI assistant for field technicians, the Cat AI Assistant, which allows voice-command access to repair procedures and troubleshooting. This tool is now in use by customers, operators, and technicians, drawing on Caterpillar's 1.6 million connected assets globally and over 16 petabytes of proprietary data. The company is also using AI for site scanning, digital twin generation in manufacturing, and internal enterprise operations, including software development. Caterpillar plans to invest $100 million over the next five years to train its 118,000 employees in AI, autonomy, and robotics.
India’s Digital Fertiliser Distribution System Covers Over 14 Crore Aadhaar-Linked Farmers
India's Integrated Fertiliser Management System (iFMS) has launched new digital initiatives. The system now covers over 14 crore (140 million) Aadhaar-linked farmers, streamlining the distribution of agricultural inputs. This digital push aims to enhance efficiency and transparency in the supply chain for fertilisers. The government's goal is to ensure that subsidies and products reach farmers directly, reducing leakages and improving agricultural productivity across the nation. This expansion represents a significant step in India's broader digital transformation efforts within the agricultural sector.
OpenAI and 100+ Companies Back Global AI Cyber Defense Plan
OpenAI is spearheading a global initiative to bolster cyber defenses against AI-powered attacks. The company published an open letter advocating for a coordinated international response, signed by over 100 organizations. These include major tech players like Microsoft, Google, Anthropic, AWS, AMD, and IBM. The push comes as advanced AI models are making cyberattacks faster, cheaper, and more sophisticated, posing a growing threat to critical infrastructure worldwide. The initiative aims to establish a unified front to counter these evolving cyber threats.
First outputs from GPT-6 "Astra" model from OpenAI
OpenAI is reportedly accelerating the release of its next-generation AI model, internally codenamed Astra, with expanded internal testing and a new checkpoint, “mozaik-alpha-fdm.” Early outputs suggest a strong focus on agentic coding and visual software creation, with Astra reportedly generating a GTA 2-style game and detailed websites from single prompts. The model is said to spend substantially longer reasoning than its predecessor, GPT-5.6 Sol, and shows improved attention to implementation details and complete functionality. While a public name like GPT-6 is plausible, OpenAI has not confirmed branding or a release date, though some reports suggest a launch within weeks.
Sigenergy Delivers Strong H1 2026 Performance as AI-Driven Energy Innovation Powers Global Growth
Sigenergy Technology Co., Ltd. announced strong interim results for the first half of 2026, with revenue surging 261.2% year-on-year to RMB 9.87 billion (approximately US$1.46 billion). Profit for the period increased 201% to RMB 2.43 billion. The company's Sigen energy storage series was the primary growth driver, generating RMB 9.3 billion, representing 94.2% of total revenue. Sigenergy also expanded its product portfolio across residential, commercial, and utility-scale solutions, introducing innovations like SigenStor Neo, SigenFlux heat pumps, and Sigen EVAC 2 smart EV chargers. The company further advanced its "AI in All" strategy by launching SigenAgent, an all-domain AI agent for energy management, and rolled out mySigen App 4.0 with enhanced AI capabilities.
OpenAI-backed legal tech firm pivots to Chinese Kimi K3 open-weight model
Harvey, a US legal artificial intelligence startup backed by OpenAI, has developed its first in-house model, Harvey Tenet, using China's Moonshot AI’s Kimi K3 open-weight base. This move reflects a growing trend among Western tech firms to utilize Chinese open-weight systems due to rising development costs. Harvey Tenet, post-trained on comprehensive legal datasets, reportedly achieves state-of-the-art performance in complex legal tasks, outperforming its underlying base model and US frontier systems like Fable 5 and GPT-5.6 Sol. The company, founded in 2022, reached an US$11 billion valuation in March and serves major international law firms. This pivot from customizing closed proprietary models by US leaders such as Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google marks a significant shift for the firm.
Reality check for China’s carmakers as authorities tell them to focus on quality, not tech
China's auto sector is facing increased scrutiny from regulators, with Vice-Minister of Industry and Information Technology Xin Guobin announcing stricter approval procedures for new auto products and technologies. This nationwide inspection campaign aims to address concerns about vehicle quality and the safety of autonomous driving technology, following several incidents and growing consumer complaints. The move is expected to cause some consumers to delay car purchases, further impacting a bearish outlook for the country's car market. Carmakers will now need to prioritize quality and safety over rapid technological innovation to gain market approval.
China leverages short-video ecosystem, lower costs to carve out lead in AI video
Chinese AI companies are demonstrating a clear lead over US rivals in video generation, according to industry evaluation platform Artificial Analysis. Models from firms like Alibaba, MiniMax, and ByteDance now dominate benchmark rankings for text-to-video with audio, image-to-video, and video editing. Alibaba's Wan 3.0 model ranks first on the text-to-video leaderboard, ahead of Google Gemini Omni Flash. Overall, Chinese models occupy eight of the top 10 positions across these categories, driven by proprietary training data, rapid iteration, and strong domestic demand for short-form content.
Korea to Launch National AI Assistant Service From September
South Korea is set to launch a national AI assistant service, "AI for All," beginning in September. The Ministry of Science and ICT has selected consortiums led by KT, SK Telecom, and Kakao to develop the service. This initiative aims to provide AI agents that manage and complete daily tasks across various sectors, including housing, healthcare, education, employment, and public services. The AI will connect with existing public and private services to streamline administrative processes, moving beyond general-purpose chatbots. Kakao plans a beta launch in September, with SK Telecom following in October and a full service within the year.
SK Telecom, Kakao, KT Win Korea's Free AI Service Project
South Korea has selected consortiums led by SK Telecom, Kakao, and KT to operate its "AI for All" project, a government initiative to provide free artificial intelligence services nationwide. The Ministry of Science and ICT chose these three groups after evaluating six bidders, citing their plans for general-purpose AI chatbots, public AI agents, and specialized services developed with startups. The government will sign agreements next month, with a beta service preceding a full launch later this year. The winning consortiums will receive 512 B200 GPUs this year to support their development efforts.
Global investors use “perp” bets to chase China tech stocks like Unitree
Global investors are increasingly using perpetual futures, highly leveraged derivatives without expiration dates, to gain exposure to Chinese technology stocks. This trend is driven by the global surge in AI hype, allowing international traders to speculate on asset prices without direct ownership. Perpetual futures, which gained popularity in cryptocurrency markets, are now being linked to real-world assets like stocks, providing a workaround for investors outside China to access IPOs of companies such as humanoid robot maker Unitree Robotics and memory chipmaker ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT). Trading volume for real-world asset perps exploded to USD 1.4 trillion in the first half of this year, up from USD 23.6 billion in the first six months of 2025, reflecting significant investor interest.
Solar power - cutting costs, powering growth
Vietnam's Quang Tri province is experiencing increased electricity demand due to economic growth, with renewable energy sources like solar and wind power emerging as key solutions. The province is leveraging its natural potential to reduce costs and provide clean, locally generated power. This development is part of a broader national push, as evidenced by the construction of a 450MW solar power plant in Tay Ninh and Lam Dong's approval of over 5.7 trillion VND in solar power investment. Vietnam has also raised its rooftop solar sales cap to 50%, expanding direct power deals.
Nvidia Deepens China Ties, Optimizing for DeepSeek and Alibaba Models
Nvidia has launched a "Local AI Initiative" to optimize its chips for Chinese open-source AI models, including DeepSeek's V4 Flash and Alibaba's Qwen 3.8. This move comes despite growing U.S. congressional concern over Chinese AI development and potential restrictions. The company quickly enabled support for Qwen 3.8-27B on its RTX GPUs and issued software updates for linking DGX Spark systems to run models like Z.ai's GLM 5.2. Nvidia acknowledged in a regulatory filing that U.S. government measures could limit its ability to support third-party applications built on Chinese open-source foundation models, potentially affecting its business.
OpenAI will pull its models from Cursor due to SpaceXAI acquisition
OpenAI will terminate Cursor's access to its models by November 12, 2026, following the AI coding assistant's acquisition by SpaceXAI. This decision stems from OpenAI's stated lack of confidence that SpaceXAI will adhere to its terms of service, citing past experiences with Elon Musk's companies. OpenAI specifically referenced Musk's admission during a 2024 lawsuit cross-examination that xAI used OpenAI's output to train its own models, a process known as distillation. Cursor co-founder and CEO Michael Truell noted that OpenAI currently serves five percent of the tool's customers, and his team is engaging with OpenAI for a resolution. Meanwhile, Anthropic has committed to increasing support for Claude models within Cursor.
Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max Specs Leaked: 13-Inch Display, 10,000mAh+ Battery and XRING O3
Xiaomi is reportedly developing a new high-end tablet, the Pad 9 Pro Max, which could feature a 13-inch display and a battery exceeding 10,000mAh with 120W fast charging. Leaks suggest the device will be the first to use Xiaomi’s next-generation XRING O3 chipset, offering a 10-core CPU architecture clocked up to 4.35GHz. The XRING O3 is rumored to achieve a Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 15,221 and an AnTuTu overall score of 5,228,014 in laboratory tests. Graphics performance is also expected to see significant improvements with the new G2-Ultra NX GPU. The tablet is anticipated to debut alongside the Xiaomi 18 Fold, showcasing Xiaomi’s latest hardware strategy.
Alibaba just released Qwen3.8-Flash: “An early preview of the architecture in Qwen4”
Alibaba Cloud has released Qwen3.8-Flash, an open-weight, multimodal Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) model. This new model is positioned as an early preview of the architecture intended for the upcoming Qwen4. It follows closely on the heels of Qwen 3.8 Max, indicating a rapid development cycle for Alibaba's large language models. The Qwen series represents Alibaba's continued investment in advanced AI capabilities, aiming to compete in the global AI landscape with open-source contributions. This release provides developers and researchers with access to a more efficient model for various AI applications.
Tencent's 770B Hy4 AI Model Is Open Source, Here's What Makes It Different
Tencent has open-sourced its Hy4 AI model, featuring 770 billion total parameters with 49 billion active parameters per token. This Mixture-of-Experts architecture allows for enormous total capacity without the computational burden of a dense model. Hy4 also boasts a context window exceeding one million tokens, positioning it for complex, multi-step tasks rather than simple chatbot responses. Tencent’s Hunyuan team focused on real-world productivity tasks for training, involving internal colleagues from software engineering, game development, finance, and security. The model is available through Hugging Face and Tencent Cloud TokenHub, with free access offered via WorkBuddy and CodeBuddy for two weeks post-launch.
OpenAI to cut off AI models for SpaceX-owned Cursor, escalating feud with Musk
OpenAI is reportedly terminating its AI model access for Cursor, a coding AI startup owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX. This move escalates the ongoing public dispute between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Musk, who co-founded OpenAI before leaving in 2018. Cursor, which uses OpenAI's models to power its AI coding assistant, will need to find alternative large language models (LLMs) to continue its operations. The decision impacts Cursor's ability to provide its services and highlights the increasing tensions between major AI players and their former associates.
Z.ai’s GLM-5.3 goes open weight, but its new license aims at hyperscalers
Z.ai, a Chinese AI lab, has made its GLM-5.3 model open weight. This move allows broader access to the model, which was previously known for powering the viral ox-alpha model. However, the accompanying license is specifically designed to target hyperscalers, suggesting a strategic approach to its commercial deployment. The license aims to prevent large cloud providers from freely monetizing the model without specific agreements. This development reflects a trend among AI developers to balance open access with commercial interests, particularly concerning powerful new models.
Anthropic Wins Court Battle as US Judge Blocks Pentagon Blacklisting
A US federal judge has blocked the Pentagon from blacklisting Anthropic, the AI company behind the Claude chatbot, in a significant legal victory. US District Judge Rita F. Lin ruled on Thursday, August 28, 2026, that the Pentagon’s designation of Anthropic as a national security supply-chain risk was unlawful. The judge found the government’s actions amounted to retaliation and violated constitutional protections, including the First and Fifth Amendments. This ruling sets aside the supply-chain risk designation, which could have cost Anthropic billions of dollars in government contracts and damaged its reputation.
Claude vs. Kimi
Moonshot AI’s Kimi is emerging as a significant Chinese competitor to Anthropic’s Claude. The comparison between the two large language models reveals increasingly comparable capabilities, but also notable differences in performance, personality, and content restrictions. This competition highlights distinct technological approaches and regulatory environments in the intensifying AI race between the U.S. and China. Kimi has gained considerable traction, with millions of users accessing its free program, particularly in China.
Devanathan quits Meta, joins OpenAI to lead Southeast Asia, Australia operations
Sandhya Devanathan, formerly Meta's head for India and Southeast Asia, has departed the company to join OpenAI. She will assume the role of Vice-President for Southeast Asia and Australia, based in Singapore. This newly created position makes Devanathan OpenAI's most senior leader for the region, overseeing consumer growth, enterprise adoption, partnerships, regulatory engagement, and operations. Her appointment reflects OpenAI's accelerated expansion across Asia Pacific, building on recent office openings in Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney, and New Delhi, and follows the hiring of Prabhjeet Singh as Managing Director for India.
Gnani unveils sovereign AI stack ‘Artha’ featuring open-weight model, enterprise agents
Bengaluru-based voice AI startup Gnani has launched Artha, an end-to-end sovereign AI stack for Indian enterprises and public institutions. The stack includes Evon v3.3, a 30-billion-parameter open-weight LLM trained from scratch, and Plexus, an agentic AI platform. Evon v3.3 supports over 11 Indian languages and is designed for self-hosting, addressing data residency requirements. Gnani states its tokeniser for Indian scripts requires roughly 20 percent fewer tokens per Indian-language word than GPT-5 family models, aiming to lower AI costs. The launch was unveiled in New Delhi with Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan present.
EACON Mining Technology Brings Bidirectional Autonomy to Cabless Mining Truck
EACON Mining Technology has deployed its autonomous haulage system on the AT150, a 136-tonne-payload, cabless, and bidirectional battery-electric mining truck. This vehicle, developed with Inner Mongolia North Hauler Joint Stock Co., Ltd. (NHL) and State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC), is now operating at an SPIC mine in northern China. The AT150's design allows it to approach and depart from loading or dumping points in either direction, eliminating U-turns and streamlining traffic in confined areas. This innovation integrates EACON's autonomous driving technology with NHL's vehicle manufacturing and SPIC's operational expertise, showcasing how autonomy can reshape vehicle architecture and mine workflows from the outset. The truck's 900V system supports charging at up to 3.4 MW, and its semi-solid-state battery is designed for extreme temperatures ranging from –30°C to 50°C.
BYD posts US$1.2 billion profit in second quarter on surging global demand
BYD, China's electric vehicle giant, reported a net income of US$1.2 billion in the second quarter, marking a 30 percent year-on-year increase. This performance surpassed analyst estimates, driven by strong overseas sales that helped offset a decline in the domestic market. The Shenzhen-based carmaker's revenue for the quarter dipped 3 percent to 194.6 billion yuan. Despite the strong second quarter, BYD's net profit for the first half of 2026 fell 20.5 percent to 12.3 billion yuan, reflecting a significant drop in the preceding three months.
Tencent open-sources Hy4 preview with 770B parameters and a 1M-token context
Tencent Hunyuan has open-sourced the Hy4 preview, a new large language model with 770 billion total parameters and a context window exceeding 1 million tokens. The model, released on August 28, features 49 billion activated parameters. It is accessible through Tencent's WorkBuddy and CodeBuddy platforms, as well as Yuanbao and ima, with API access provided via Tencent Cloud TokenHub and OpenRouter. Hy4 preview is designed to enhance productivity across tasks such as coding, office work, data analysis, game development, and scientific research. Tencent is offering free two-week access to WorkBuddy and CodeBuddy users, while API access is priced at $0.834 per million input tokens and $2.501 per million output tokens.
Google's Gemini 3.5 Transcribe Can Clean Up Your Voice Notes And Soon Your Chrome Typing
Google has launched Gemini 3.5 Transcribe, its latest speech-to-text model designed to clean up voice input by removing filler words, resolving corrections, and automatically formatting speech. This model aims to produce text that reflects the user's intended meaning rather than a literal transcription of all spoken words. It is currently available in the Gemini app on macOS in English and powers Rambler on Android in selected countries and languages. Developers can access it via Google AI Studio and Google Antigravity, while enterprise clients use the Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform. Google plans to integrate Gemini 3.5 Transcribe into Chrome soon, enabling talk-to-type functionality directly within web fields.
PetroChina Achieves a Strong Start for "the 15th Five-Year Plan" Interim Operating Results for the First Half of 2026 Hit New Record Highs
PetroChina announced record-high operating results for the first half of 2026, with revenue reaching RMB 1,527.49 billion, a 5.3% year-on-year increase. Profit attributable to owners of the company exceeded RMB 100 billion for the first time in a half-year period, totaling RMB 103.94 billion, up 22.0% from the previous year. The company strengthened its oil and gas supply capabilities, achieving 6 new discoveries and cultivating two hundred-billion-cubic-meter-level large-scale reserve areas in Sichuan Basin and Junggar Basin. PetroChina also accelerated its new energy business, generating 5.07 billion kWh of wind and solar power, a 37.3% increase year-on-year, and advanced carbon capture, utilization, and storage efforts by injecting 1.37 million tons of CO2. The Tarim 1.2 million tons per year phase II ethylene project was completed, marking China's first whole-chain green and low-carbon ethylene project.
Malaysia’s PM Anwar unveils measures to tackle living costs, support local businesses
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced new measures on August 30 to address living costs and support local businesses. These include restoring higher quotas for subsidised fuel purchases and increasing funding for schools and small traders. Effective September 1, the RON95 fuel quota for Malaysian citizens will return to 300 litres per month, up from 200 litres. Diesel purchase quotas for specific users will also rise to 400 litres monthly. Additionally, the government will open an AI program to Malaysians aged 18 to 30, offering free access to applications like Google's Gemini Enterprise and Alibaba Cloud's Wonderclip and MuleRun. The revenue threshold for e-invoicing exemption will be raised to RM3 million (US$745,000) annually.
As cyber threats strike at AI speed, Malaysia urged to embed risk‐based defence
Malaysia is facing an escalating challenge in cybersecurity, driven by the rapid acceleration of threats due to artificial intelligence. Telekom Malaysia Chief Information Security Officer Raja Azrina Raja Othman, a co-founder of MyCERT in 1997, highlighted that modern cyberattacks are no longer confined to specific systems but impact interconnected digital services across banking, government, and critical infrastructure. The speed of these AI-powered attacks demands a shift from manual defence strategies to risk-based approaches embedded in organisational governance. Raja Azrina emphasized that while investments are crucial, organisations must also prepare for incidents and ensure swift detection, response, and remediation to maintain business continuity and public confidence.
Not a token effort: beer meets artificial intelligence at bar in China’s capital
The AGI Bar in Beijing's Zhongguancun tech hub offers customers free access to AI models with any drink purchase. Opened in June last year, the bar provides free tokens for various AI models and runs DeepSeek-V4-Flash locally on two Nvidia DGX Spark computers. Customers connect via in-house Wi-fi and configure an AI agent to access these services. The bar, named after artificial general intelligence, sells its bestselling AGI beer for 9.9 yuan (US$1.47) and features merchandise from major Chinese AI companies like Alibaba and Tencent. Manager Yang Yuan declined to disclose monthly token consumption costs, stating they are covered by the bar's owner.
Judge strikes down Anthropic blacklist, says government retaliated over Pentagon criticism
A US federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration unlawfully blacklisted AI company Anthropic as a supply-chain risk. Judge Rita F. Lin found the government retaliated against Anthropic for criticizing the Pentagon's AI use plans, violating the company's First Amendment rights. The ruling mandates the government withdraw all guidance and communications that designated Anthropic as a risk. This decision follows Anthropic's lawsuit in March after talks with the Pentagon over military use of its AI models, including Claude, broke down. The company had sought limits on its technology for autonomous weapons and domestic surveillance, which the Pentagon rejected. The designation caused Anthropic hundreds of millions of dollars in canceled or delayed contracts, with rivals like OpenAI reportedly preparing to replace it in federal government roles.
FICO Says Businesses Need to Explain Their AI Decisions
FICO's President of Software, Nikhil Behl, emphasizes the critical need for businesses to implement a robust "decision layer" to ensure explainable AI outcomes. This layer connects raw AI output with real-world business decisions, such as loan approvals or fraud flags, by integrating data, models, rules, governance, and observability. Behl states that without this infrastructure, companies risk making decisions without a clear record of how they were reached, leading to indefensible outputs. The discussion highlights that 85% of leaders report technology, data, process, and talent debt limiting their AI value, with only 6% having established and measured programs to address these issues.
Who Are the 9 Indians Named Among TIME's 100 Most Influential People in AI?
Nine professionals of Indian origin were named among TIME's 2026 list of the 100 Most Influential People in AI. The honorees include IBM CEO Arvind Krishna and Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S, recognized for their leadership in enterprise AI and the future of work, respectively. Other notable individuals are Vivek Raghavan, co-founder of Sarvam AI, focused on Indian-language AI, and Anima Anandkumar, a Caltech professor researching AI for scientific modeling. The list also features experts applying AI in healthcare, law, and judicial systems, such as Suchi Saria of Bayesian Health and Utkarsh Saxena of Adalat AI, reflecting AI's broad impact across various sectors.
TCL Electronics (01070.HK) Delivers Strong Growth in 2026 Interim Results
TCL Electronics reported strong interim results for the first half of 2026, with adjusted profit attributable to owners surging 54.3% year-on-year to HK$1.64 billion. Revenue increased by 16.4% year-on-year to HK$63.76 billion, driven by its "Globalisation" and "Premiumisation" strategies. The company's TV business saw revenue grow 24.3% to HK$35.25 billion, with TCL TV ranking second globally by shipment and Mini LED TV shipments increasing by 77.1%. Additionally, TCL Electronics announced the proposed acquisition of TCL Industries Holdings' air-conditioning business to expand its smart device portfolio, and entered a joint venture with Sony for home entertainment.
Sam Altman needs to put up or shut up about AI hacking
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has called for a public effort to address AI hacking concerns, a move that has drawn criticism for being self-serving. This comes as a Chinese company is reportedly preparing to launch a new "frontier coding with emergent cyber capabilities model." Critics argue that AI companies like OpenAI, which enabled these capabilities, are now deflecting responsibility for the security challenges they created. The discussion points to a growing tension between rapid AI development and the need for robust cybersecurity measures, particularly as advanced models become more accessible. This development highlights the global race in AI capabilities and the associated risks.
Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max color and memory options leak before launch
Xiaomi is preparing for an early September event to unveil its new Xiaomi 18 Fold and the Xiaomi Pad 9 series. A recent leak details the top-tier model, the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max, which will feature a 13-inch screen and a distinctive red color option. This tablet is also expected to be the first device, alongside the 18 Fold, to incorporate Xiaomi’s new XRING O3 chip. The Pad 9 Pro Max will offer up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, powered by a battery exceeding 10000mAh with 120W charging support.
UP study: AI could help identify at-risk public libraries, target funding
The University of the Philippines has proposed using AI and machine learning to improve the country's public library system. A policy brief suggests overhauling Republic Act No. 7743, a 1994 law that mandated the establishment of libraries and reading centers. Currently, only about 30 percent of registered libraries are operational, facing issues like inadequate resources and limited technology skills. The research identified disparities, with regions like BARMM, Caraga, and Region II having low operational capacity and high risk of closure. The study utilized four machine-learning models, with Gradient Boosting performing best at 0.788 accuracy, to classify libraries and guide funding decisions.
Principled Caution: Navigating AI in Asian Newsrooms
Independent newsrooms across eight Asian countries are adopting AI with "principled caution" due to risks of legal and political persecution from errors. A report by Asia Centre, DW Akademie, and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development highlights this careful approach. The study, covering Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan, found AI primarily assists in preliminary and final editorial stages. Human oversight remains critical for core journalistic tasks, especially in environments where mistakes can lead to censorship or operational shutdowns. Over 60 percent of surveyed newsrooms lack cohesive AI strategies, relying on individual staff experimentation.
BIR readies e-invoicing rules ahead of Dec. 31 deadline
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in the Philippines is preparing to implement electronic invoicing requirements for specific taxpayers by December 31, 2026. This initiative is part of a broader push to digitize tax administration across the country. The BIR recently held consultations with various business groups and private-sector stakeholders on a draft Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) outlining policies and guidelines for e-invoicing. Covered taxpayers will have the option to use internally developed, commercially acquired, or Electronic Invoicing Solution Provider systems. BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza emphasized learning from initial implementation to refine the Electronic Invoicing System (EIS) project.
Uzbekistan tests US-China AI rift with bid to join rival tech bloc
Uzbekistan has formally requested to join Pax Silica, the US-led initiative focused on artificial intelligence supply chains. This diplomatic move follows Uzbekistan's recent decision to join China's World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (Waico) just a month prior. Ambassador Furqat Sidikov confirmed that Tashkent submitted a diplomatic note to the US State Department last week, expressing readiness to sign. Sidikov emphasized that countries should have the opportunity for diverse international cooperation, viewing it as beneficial competition. This development reflects Central Asian nations' efforts to navigate the AI race without being forced to choose exclusively between Washington and Beijing.
I canceled Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini subscriptions just to go back to this powerful AI tool
An AI user has opted to cancel subscriptions to ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, consolidating their workflow around Grok after its 4.5 and 4.6 updates. The user noted that Grok now efficiently handles daily tasks, including general work, coding, and integrations with services like Gmail, Google Calendar, Outlook, Figma, and Canva. This shift highlights Grok's improved capabilities in understanding prompts and providing concise responses, contrasting with other AI assistants that tend to over-format information. The user specifically cited Grok 4.6's performance in coding tasks within Cursor, valuing its speed and lower token usage for iterative development work.
‘The river... was going to consume the entire world’: Nepal flood survivors recount harrowing experience
A flash flood on August 26 devastated communities along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli Rivers in northern Nepal, washing away an under-construction hydropower dam. Survivors, including Bikash Tharu, an electrical technician, recounted narrow escapes due to unforeseen delays. The Nepali army established a relief camp in Nuwakot, evacuating over 5,000 people by August 29. Many survivors arrived with injuries and trauma, requiring medical attention and psychological counseling, with severe cases airlifted to Kathmandu hospitals. Authorities are also working to identify victims, sharing fingerprints from recovered bodies with foreign countries.
I paired a local LLM with Obsidian on mobile; it eliminated my daily note-sorting headaches
An Obsidian user developed a system to pair a local large language model (LLM) with their mobile note-taking vault, aiming to resolve issues with note organization and retrieval. The user integrated LocalRAG!, an application that indexes documents and runs an on-device LLM, to search and connect notes without cloud dependency. This setup allows for offline processing of Markdown files, providing numbered citations for relevant passages within the Obsidian vault. The LocalRAG! app offers a free plan with five daily questions, with paid tiers at $4.99 and $9.99 per month, or an option to use an Anthropic API key. This solution addresses the challenge of managing extensive personal knowledge bases on mobile devices.
LMP, TESDA, Aboitiz Foundation Bring Opportunities Closer to Communities
Aboitiz Foundation is strengthening its partnerships with the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to expand education, livelihood, and sustainability programs across Filipino communities. Through the LMP partnership, Aboitiz Foundation will deploy its AuroraPH, Elevate AIDA, and CarbonPH programs to identified municipalities nationwide. These initiatives aim to provide power and digital learning to underserved schools, expand digital skills, and enhance environmental resilience. The collaboration with TESDA focuses on AIDA Plus, a program designed to create clearer pathways from skills training to employment, building on the success of the Elevate AIDA digital skills program developed with Connected Women. This effort involves TESDA Regional Office VII, Cebu Call Center Academy, and Visayan Electric, aiming to align training with industry demands and employment opportunities for Filipinos.
Marcos orders study of rainwater project to boost Pampanga water supply
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed government agencies to study rainwater harvesting as an additional water source for Pampanga, Philippines. Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon confirmed this initiative, aimed at boosting potable and industrial water supplies. An interagency meeting, led by Dizon and Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, included representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), Manila Water, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The proposed bulk water project would integrate with existing water, irrigation, environmental, and river-basin management plans in Central Luzon. The project is currently in the proposal and study phase, with no details yet on capacity, cost, or construction timeline.
GS1 HK Food Safety Forum 2026 Spotlights Traceability and Sustainability
GS1 Hong Kong hosted its 12th Food Safety Forum on August 28, 2026, gathering 300 professionals from the food and beverage sector. The event focused on leveraging technology, data, and standards to advance food safety and sustainability. Ms. Diane Wong Shuk-han, JP, Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, served as the Guest of Honour, emphasizing the HKSAR Government's push to promote Mainland agricultural products globally via Hong Kong. The forum also recognized 21 companies for their achievements in food safety and supply chain traceability under the Quality Food Scheme. Discussions highlighted the increasing adoption of digital labeling, particularly QR codes powered by GS1 Standards, to enhance product information and regulatory compliance.
Gauth: More Than Answers--An AI Partner That Teaches Students How to Learn
Gauth, an AI-powered study companion, announced on August 29, 2026, a redefinition of its educational role, shifting from simple problem-solving to a comprehensive learning partner. The platform, powered by its proprietary Gauth AI education model, aims to help students understand the "how" and "why" behind concepts through visual aids and step-by-step explanations. It supports the entire academic journey, offering customized Flashcards, targeted Quizzes, and comprehensive support across all subjects, including deep adaptation to Vietnam's local curriculum. Additionally, Gauth introduced a Live Tutor feature for real-time voice interaction and Q&A sessions, mimicking a physical classroom experience.
'Cosmetics ODM's role is creating what's not out there yet,' Cosmax makeup research head says
Cosmax, a major Korean beauty original development manufacturing (ODM) company, is developing new beauty formulas and devices to shape future global trends. Woo Young-hwa, director of the Cosmax Makeup Research & Innovation Center, stated the company focuses on gel-type formulas, ultra-thin high-adherence gel, and products combining makeup and skincare. Cosmax serves approximately 5,000 beauty brands worldwide, from European labels to boutique brands. The company aims to anticipate consumer demand faster and utilize AI for data analysis to shorten development cycles in the beauty industry. This strategic shift reflects the evolving role of ODMs from simple production to proactive trend anticipation.
Phú Thọ fast-tracks Toyota Vietnam’s factory expansion
Toyota Vietnam is expanding its factory in Phú Thọ province, a project covering over 28.6 hectares. The expansion will boost the company's annual production and assembly capacity to approximately 52,000 vehicles. This significant investment totals more than US$284 million. The Vietnamese government is fast-tracking the necessary approvals for the project. This move aims to increase local automotive manufacturing output and meet growing demand within the region.
MetaLight (02605.HK) Announces 2026 Interim Results: Net Loss Narrows Significantly, with Adjusted Net Profitability Sustained
MetaLight Inc. (02605.HK), an AI-powered public transit information provider, announced its interim results for the first half of 2026. The company reported a significant narrowing of its net loss, primarily due to the non-recurrence of fair value losses on convertible redeemable preferred shares and listing-related expenses from the previous year. Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2026, decreased to approximately RMB92.0 million from RMB97.0 million in the same period of 2025. This decline was largely attributed to adjustments in mobile advertising inventory to improve user experience, which temporarily impacted mobile advertising revenue by about RMB4.7 million. MetaLight is also advancing AI-related initiatives, including integrating AI Agents into R&D and exploring new applications for its public transit data capabilities.