Samsung, SK and U.S. Big Tech pursue $950 billion AI chip deals amid semiconductor shortage

• CONF3RENCE 2026, Germany's largest event bridging emerging technology and the traditional economy, will take place in Dortmund on August 24, 2026. • In a departure from industry trends of raising costs, the organizers are focusing on accessibility by lowering barriers to entry and expanding guest lists.

• The SEC is probing Situational Awareness, a high-profile AI hedge fund that recently faced a near-collapse after initially gaining significant Wall Street attention. • The fund is currently the subject of federal subpoenas, though the company has stated it will cooperate fully with all regulatory requests.

• Early testers are praising Instinct, a new AI assistant created by a team led by former Sierra scientist Noah Shinn, for its powerful ability to act on users' behalf. • Despite the positive feedback, users have raised significant concerns regarding the agent's sweeping data access, security model, and broad terms of service.

• Stripe has acquired the AI gateway OpenRouter in a deal valued at $7 billion. • OpenAI has paused frontier training for its Astra model after internal evaluations revealed critical advances in agentic coding and cybersecurity.

• China's top internet regulator unveiled a strategic action plan on Friday aimed at transforming cyberspace enterprises into primary drivers of economic and social development by 2030. • The initiative focuses on achieving breakthroughs in critical technologies, specifically targeting high-end chips, industrial software, network communications, and data security.

• South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency are seeking a consortium to develop a cybersecurity-specialized AI foundation model. • Applications for the project close on August 26, with SK Telecom, Naver Cloud, LG CNS, and Bidraft expected to compete as consortium leaders.

• Forbes Asia has released its sixth annual "100 to Watch" list, highlighting emerging startups and small companies across the Asia-Pacific region. • The 2026 list is heavily dominated by AI-driven innovation, featuring companies like Singapore-based Eezee and Hyderabad-based Equal Identity.

• China has designated quantum technology as a priority frontier field within its new 2026-2030 Cyber Industry plan. • The initiative directs companies to advance basic research and develop core technologies, specifically targeting high-end chips, cybersecurity, data security, and industrial software.

• Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni previously championed a hardline EU policy focused on the "return" of irregular migrants to externalize border controls. • The strategy is now backfiring as other EU member states are increasingly invoking the "first-arrival principle" to request that Italy take back migrants.

• The United States now dominates the global hyperscale landscape, hosting 15 of the world's 20 largest AI data center markets. • Expansion is shifting away from traditional technology hubs as states like Texas aggressively compete to attract new infrastructure investments.

• Indian cybersecurity startups are increasingly expanding their operations overseas to build global credibility and attract higher levels of investment. • CEO Mohit Anand of Mitigata notes that an international presence is often critical for startups seeking to secure significant funding rounds.

• Several major retail activations are currently transforming malls across Asia, featuring oversized installations such as a 10-metre corgi in Hong Kong and giant vegetables in Bangkok. • Notable projects include a Disney and G-Dragon collaboration at Hong Kong's Harbour City running until September 6, and an H&M x MLMA partnership in Seongsu featuring a giant sculptural head.