India is recasting its IndiaAI Mission for telecom and digital infrastructure

• Imperial College London has secured two major research grants to co-lead landmark AI innovation programmes in partnership with institutions in Singapore. • The initiatives will focus on leveraging artificial intelligence to accelerate the pace of chemistry discovery and enhance the reliability of software systems.

• Major Chinese AI firms, including Tencent, MiniMax, and Alibaba, have significantly slashed prices for their AI models to combat intense market competition. • Specific cuts include Tencent reducing Hy-MT2-Pro costs by nearly 70%, MiniMax halving prices for its M3 series, and Alibaba offering 50% off its Qwen3.7-Max system during the 618 midyear sales event.

• Hong Kong is positioning itself for a tech resurgence, with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange focusing on a 2026 outlook centered on AI and quantum computing. • Key companies to watch include Zhipu AI, MiniMax, Tencent, Alibaba, and XtalPi, including their US-listed American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).

• AsiaTechDaily and beSUCCESS Media Group, in association with KoreaTechDesk and IndiaTechDesk, have announced the investor panel for the AsiaStartupExpo Q2 2026. • The virtual event, scheduled for June 17, features a diverse panel including Gaurav Pant, Dominica Drazal, Tommy Khương, and others representing India, Thailand, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and South Korea.

• A new Forbes ranking has identified 26 influential Indian-origin CEOs and entrepreneurs who are currently shaping the technology ecosystem and business landscape in Silicon Valley. • These leaders hold pivotal roles across major global corporations, including Google, Adobe, and Microsoft, as well as emerging sectors like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and venture capital.

• London Tech Week 2026 concluded with £6 billion in AI investment commitments and the securing of 8,000 new jobs. • Key investments include £1.7 billion from cloud provider Nebius to deploy Nvidia compute systems and expand its London-based R&D hub.

• The European Union is approaching key implementation deadlines for the EU AI Act, creating significant regulatory hurdles for US-based AI startups expanding into Europe. • Industry specialists warn that the Act's strict compliance requirements and potential penalties may deter American innovation and limit the availability of advanced AI tools within the EU.

• A report by team.blue, based on a survey of 10,059 businesses across 32 European markets, identifies a growing "Visibility Gap" affecting how companies reach customers. • The study highlights that the rise of AI, evolving search algorithms, and increasing advertising costs are fundamentally redefining the process of customer discovery.

• London Tech Week served as a strategic showcase to highlight the city's competitive advantages in the global technology sector. • The event emphasized London's proven ability to adapt to rapid technological shifts, specifically citing leadership in fintech and the development of artificial intelligence.

• New research from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) warns that AI-generated investment portfolios are heavily concentrated in mega-cap tech stocks. • The study found that Large Language Models (LLMs) prioritize the volume of media coverage over fundamental financial analysis, leading to a near-universal recommendation of Nvidia (NVDA).

• Huawei is attempting to revitalize its PanguLM large language model to regain competitiveness as China's AI race enters a more challenging phase. • The company's recovery strategy relies heavily on the leadership and profile of Richard Yu to restore the model's credibility.