Taiwan’s Digital Minister, Huang Yen-nun, discussed deeper cooperation in digital and AI technologies with the United States during the recent APEC conference in Incheon—the talks from 3 August to 6 August marked a new phase in bilateral tech collaboration.
Huang confirmed that the APEC gathering had produced its first joint ministerial statement on digital and AI policy. Ministers pledged to enhance connectivity, prevent digital exclusion, promote trustworthy AI, and accelerate the adoption of responsible technology across the Asia-Pacific region.
Digital goals of Taiwan closely align with the APEC declaration, Huang said, particularly in areas such as online fraud prevention, resilience-building, and expanding the digital economy. He framed the agreement as a strong alignment with national priorities.
Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, was highlighted as a key ally. Huang also held talks with representatives from Japan and Southeast Asia to explore regional cooperation in emerging technologies.
Cybersecurity and semiconductors remain central to Taiwan’s leadership in the technology sector. However, Huang acknowledged that further investment and collaboration with digital trailblazers, such as those in the United States, are needed to maintain the country’s edge in high-value innovation.
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The crackdown follows the discovery that organised criminal groups are operating scam centres across Southeast Asia, hacking WhatsApp accounts or adding users to group chats to lure victims into fake investment schemes and other types of fraud.
In one case, WhatsApp, Meta, and OpenAI collaborated to disrupt a Cambodian cybercrime group that used ChatGPT to generate fake instructions for a rent-a-scooter pyramid scheme.
Victims were enticed with offers of cash for social media engagement before being moved to private chats and pressured to make upfront payments via cryptocurrency platforms.
Meta warned that these scams often stem from well-organised networks in Southeast Asia, some exploiting forced labour. Authorities continue to urge the public to remain vigilant, enable features such as WhatsApp’s two-step verification, and be wary of suspicious or unsolicited messages.
It should be mentioned that these scams have also drawn political attention in the USA. Namely, US Senator Maggie Hassan has urged SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to act against transnational criminal groups in Southeast Asia that use Starlink satellite internet to run massive online fraud schemes targeting Americans.
Despite SpaceX’s policies allowing service termination for fraud, Starlink remains active in regions where these scams, often linked to forced labour and human trafficking, operate.
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A new commission will begin work next month to explore creating a standalone Cyber Force as a military service. The Centre for Strategic and International Studies leads the effort in collaboration with the Cyber Solarium Commission 2.0.
The study responds to ongoing weaknesses in how the US military organises, trains and equips personnel for cyber operations. These shortcomings have prompted calls for a dedicated force with a focused mission.
The Cyber Force would aim to improve readiness and capability in the digital domain, mirroring the structure of other service branches. Cyber operations are seen as increasingly central to national security.
Details of the commission’s work will emerge in the coming months as discussions shape what such a force might look like.
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LG CNS has secured a 100 billion won ($72 million) contract to build an AI data centre in Jakarta, a first for a Korean firm in a project of this kind overseas. The centre is expected to be completed by 2026 and will house over 100,000 servers.
The deal was signed through LG Sinar Mas Technology Solutions, a joint venture between Sinar Mas Group of Indonesia and LG of South Korea. Local partner KMG, backed by Korea Investment Real Asset Management, is leading the project to create Indonesia’s largest hyperscale AI data centre.
The 11-storey facility will launch with a power capacity of 30 megawatts, with plans to expand to 220 megawatts in future phases. LG CNS will manage key infrastructure, including electricity, cooling, and telecoms systems, using technologies across the LG Group.
Safety has been a key selling point. The centre will utilise seismic isolation systems to safeguard equipment in earthquake-prone Southeast Asia. Redundant power systems will also ensure continuous operation even during outages.
Southeast Asia is emerging as a cost-effective hub for AI among global technology giants. LG CNS plans to leverage the Jakarta project as a launchpad for expanding into Singapore, Malaysia, and other international markets.
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OpenAI is in early discussions over a share sale that could value the company at around $500 billion, according to a source familiar with the talks.
The transaction would occur before a possible IPO and let current and former employees sell several billion dollars’ worth of shares.
The valuation marks a steep rise from the $300 billion figure attached to its most recent funding round earlier in the year. Backed by Microsoft, OpenAI has seen rapid growth in users and revenue, with ChatGPT attracting about 700 million weekly active users, up from 400 million in February.
Revenue doubled in the first seven months of the year, reaching an annualised run rate of $12 billion, and is on track for $20 billion by year-end.
The potential sale comes as competition for AI talent intensifies.
Meta has invested billions in Scale AI to lure its chief executive, Alexandr Wang, to head its superintelligence unit. At the same time, firms such as ByteDance and Databricks have used private share sales to update valuations and reward staff.
Thrive Capital and other existing OpenAI investors are discussing joining the deal.
OpenAI is also preparing a major corporate restructuring that could replace its capped-profit model and clear the way for an eventual public listing.
However, Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar said any IPO would only happen when the company and the markets are ready.
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A senior White House official has urged Asia-Pacific economies to support an AI future built on US technology, warning against adopting Europe’s heavily regulated model. Michael Kratsios remarked during the APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting in Incheon.
Kratsios said countries now choose between embracing American-led innovation or falling behind under regulatory burdens. He framed the US approach as one driven by freedom and open-source innovation rather than centralised control.
The US is offering partnerships with South Korea to respect data concerns while enabling shared progress. Kratsios noted that open-weight models could soon shape industry standards worldwide.
He met South Korea’s science minister in bilateral talks to discuss AI cooperation. The US reaffirmed its commitment to supporting nations in building trustworthy AI systems based on mutual economic benefit.
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As these AI assistants summarise news content directly in search results, users are less likely to click through to the sources, threatening already struggling publishers who depend on ad revenue and subscriptions.
A Pew Research Centre study found that when AI summaries appear in search, users click suggested links half as often as in traditional search formats.
Matt Karolian of the Boston Globe Media warns that the next few years will be especially difficult for publishers, urging them to adapt or risk being ‘swept away.’
While some, like the Boston Globe, have gained a modest number of new subscribers through ChatGPT, these numbers pale compared to other traffic sources.
To adapt, publishers are turning to Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO), tailoring content so AI tools can be used and cited more effectively. Some have blocked crawlers to prevent data harvesting, while others have reopened access to retain visibility.
Legal battles are unfolding, including a major lawsuit from The New York Times against OpenAI and Microsoft. Meanwhile, licensing deals between tech giants and media organisations are beginning to take shape.
With nearly 15% of under-25s now relying on AI for news, concerns are mounting over the credibility of information. As AI reshapes how news is consumed, the survival of original journalism and public trust in it face grave uncertainty.
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Microsoft is offering security researchers up to $5 million for uncovering critical vulnerabilities in its products, with a focus on cloud and AI systems. The Zero Day Quest contest will return in spring 2026, following a $1.6 million payout in its previous edition.
Researchers are invited to submit discoveries between 4 August and 4 October 2025, targeting Azure, Copilot, M365, and other significant services. High-severity flaws are eligible for a 50% bonus payout, increasing the incentive for impactful findings.
Top participants will receive exclusive invitations to a live hacking event at Microsoft’s Redmond campus. The event promises collaboration with product teams and the Microsoft Security Response Centre.
Training from Microsoft’s AI Red Team and other internal experts will also be available. The company encourages public disclosure of patched findings to support the broader cybersecurity community.
The competition aligns with Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative, which aims to strengthen cloud and AI security by default, design, and operation. Vulnerabilities will be disclosed transparently, even if no customer action is needed.
Full details and submission rules are available through the MSRC Researcher Portal. All reports will be subject to Microsoft’s bug bounty terms.
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Apple is developing its AI-powered answer engine to rival ChatGPT, marking a strategic turn in its company’s AI approach. The move comes as Apple aims to close the gap with competitors in the fast-moving AI race.
A newly formed internal team, Answers, Knowledge and Information, is working on a tool to browse the web and deliver direct responses to users.
Led by former Siri head Robby Walker, the project is expected to expand across key Apple services, including Siri, Safari and Spotlight.
Job postings suggest Apple is recruiting talent with search engine and algorithm expertise. CEO Tim Cook has signalled Apple’s willingness to acquire companies that could speed up its AI progress.
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A recent Fortune survey indicates that 61 percent of white‑collar professionals expect AI to make their roles, or even their entire teams, obsolete within 3–5 years, yet most continue to rely on AI tools daily without visible concern.
Seventy percent of respondents credit AI with boosting their creativity and productivity, and 40 percent say it has eased stress and improved work‑life balance. Despite these benefits, many admit to ‘feigning’ AI use in workplace settings, often driven by peer pressure or a lack of formal training.
Executive commentary underscores the tension: senior business leaders, including Jim Farley and Dario Amodei, predict rapid AI‑driven disruption of white‑collar roles. Some executives forecast up to 50 percent of certain job categories could be eliminated, though others argue AI may open new opportunities.
Academic studies suggest a more nuanced impact: AI is reshaping role definitions by automating routine tasks while increasing demand for complementary skills, such as ethics, teamwork, and digital fluency. Wage benefits are growing in jobs that effectively blend AI with human oversight.
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