Asia stocks edge higher as tech steadies after AI rout; Japan lags By Investing.com

• A regional survey across Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and mainland China reveals that Singapore leads Asia in AI adoption but also reports the highest levels of anxiety regarding the technology. • Singaporean concerns center on job displacement, the rise of deepfakes, and an over-reliance on AI systems.

• Chinese AI models have dominated the global landscape by sweeping the top five positions for API calls, signaling a surge in international adoption. • In a competitive response, OpenAI has significantly reduced prices for its GPT-4o (referenced as 5.6) models by up to 80% to maintain market share.

• ThreatLocker CEO Danny Jenkins highlighted the company's zero trust security platform in the latest STACKUP weekly tech wrap. • The report provides a comprehensive overview of recent funding rounds and operational milestones for several startups, including Simile and Eliyan.

• The European Union is deploying its largest-ever firefighting force to southern Europe to assist member states in battling ongoing wildfires. • The initiative aims to provide critical resources and personnel to high-risk regions currently facing extreme fire conditions.

• India is accelerating its semiconductor ambitions by investing in R&D centers, indigenous design tools, and Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facilities to reduce import dependence. • HCLTech is expanding into the full-stack AI market by establishing its first AI data center at the upcoming Odisha Sovereign AI Park, partnering with the Government of Odisha and startup Sarvam.

• DeepSeek officially released its V4-Flash model on Friday, positioning it as the world's cheapest AI model to operate. • The launch is a strategic effort by the company to regain market momentum by leveraging its specialty in providing ultra-low-cost AI alternatives.

• Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition suffered a crushing defeat in the Negeri Sembilan polls. • The loss has sparked concerns regarding Ibrahim's political strategy as the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition grows in dominance.

• Emerging market funds are increasingly tied to the success of AI, specifically through semiconductor manufacturers in Taiwan and South Korea. • Fund managers are currently prioritizing companies benefiting from AI infrastructure expenditure over the "Magnificent Seven" US firms spending the capital.

• WEPSEA 2026 will be held in Shanghai to showcase innovations in the packaging value chain, including digital printing, corrugated packaging, and food packaging technologies. • The event will feature over 20 conferences, workshops, and networking activities designed to provide technical insights and market intelligence for industry professionals.

• Chinese AI unicorn Vast is reportedly exploring a potential initial public offering (IPO) on the Hong Kong stock exchange. • The move comes as the startup gains significant momentum, reflecting a broader surge in investor interest within China's rapidly expanding artificial intelligence sector.

• Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. has released its latest flagship AI model, aiming to compete with top global industry leaders. • The company claims the new model achieves breakthrough performance levels comparable to high-end systems like Anthropic’s Fable.