Recent News
PH drops to 52nd in innovation index despite connectivity gains
MANILA, Philippines —The Philippines slipped two places to 52nd in the 2026 Global Innovation Index (GII), as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) called for increased government and private-sector investment in research and development (R&D) to strengthen the country’s innovation capacity. The country ranked 69th in innovation inputs, down from last year, while it
TikTok rolls out AI controls and a family guide
At a TikTok Table Talk with the social media app’s local executives, I got the perfect chance to ask about brainrot content on the platform, and whether it’s getting in the way of children’s creativity in their most formative years. I described in detail how repetitive it was, like a looped version of children’s shows
Hong Kong lawmakers say 5-year tax incentive too short to entice major innovative firms
Hong Kong lawmakers have backed the government’s proposed tax incentives for large innovative companies, but many said on Monday that the planned five-year concession period is too short to attract major firms to establish headquarters or expand operations in the city. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu in his policy address last month said the government planned to submit a bill introducing preferential profits tax rates of either 5 per cent or 8.25 per cent, which was half of the city’s standard...
Huawei, Qualcomm strike multi-year patent agreement across 5G, AI
US chip giant Qualcomm has agreed to pay to licence and acquire patents from China’s Huawei Technologies for the first time as part of a “multi-year, broad patent licence agreement” covering 5G, computing and artificial intelligence. The deal involved cross-licensing between both firms’ patent portfolios, the Shenzhen-based firm said in a statement on Monday, adding that it included Qualcomm’s purchase of specific Huawei US patents across compute, AI, networking and other technologies. The...
Temu took the world by storm – but has the shopping app lost its thunder?
In February 2023, the budget shopping platform Temu announced itself on the world stage in the brashest way possible: becoming one of the youngest ever brands to buy a Super Bowl advertising spot. “Download the Temu app and shop like a billionaire,” a voice proclaimed in the 30-second commercial, as a woman danced on screen and ordered a series of outlandishly cheap items: from a US$8.99 dress to a US$4.99 wig. The commercial – which aired twice during the game, costing Temu an estimated US$14...
Temu took the world by storm – but has the shopping app lost its thunder?
In February 2023, the budget shopping platform Temu announced itself on the world stage in the brashest way possible: becoming one of the youngest ever brands to buy a Super Bowl advertising spot. “Download the Temu app and shop like a billionaire,” a voice proclaimed in the 30-second commercial, as a woman danced on screen and ordered a series of outlandishly cheap items: from a US$8.99 dress to a US$4.99 wig. The commercial – which aired twice during the game, costing Temu an estimated US$14...
Dario Amodei’s American AI imperialism
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei seems to believe that he, the American artificial intelligence (AI) industry and the United States are the only ones who should have the right to determine the fate of humanity. While he pays lip service to involving other democracies in AI development, which ones remotely approach the technological capacities of the US and China? Do other non-democratic developing countries not count? His self-belief is far more dangerous than mere commercial greed. Like Peter Thiel,...
Quality over quantity: China’s AI microdrama producers battle viewer fatigue
Two decades after stepping away from the spotlight, iconic actress Joey Wong made an unexpected return to the screen – not through a traditional production, but via artificial intelligence-powered reconstruction. In a two-minute video by NetEase this summer, Wong, one of the most well-known actresses of the 1980s and 90s, had some of her most celebrated roles recreated, including the beautiful ghost in A Chinese Ghost Story and an alluring snake demon in Green Snake. The revival is just the tip...
How US-China RISC-V collaboration is deepening despite chip rivalry
As global adoption of the open-source RISC-V chip architecture accelerates, US intellectual property provider MIPS is collaborating with Chinese firms at an unprecedented level, according to a senior executive, highlighting how cross-border cooperation persists despite intense tech rivalry between Washington and Beijing. MIPS, which was acquired by US chipmaker GlobalFoundries last year, was driving RISC-V standardisation “very closely with China”, chief technology officer Yankin Tanurhan said...
More Chinese banks likely to adopt AI rules after Ping An move: analysts
After Ping An Bank became the first listed Chinese lender to formally adopt rules governing its use of artificial intelligence, analysts said more mainland institutions were likely to follow, with the move setting an early benchmark for how far the sector can go in applying the technology. The Shenzhen-listed bank said in a filing on Wednesday that its board had approved AI management measures, following a regulatory push for banks to strengthen oversight of AI use. The full rules have not been...
Monster Hunter Outlanders launches globally on October 29
TOKYO, Japan – Monster Hunter Outlanders will launch globally on October 29, 2026, (excluding mainland China), bringing Capcom’s iconic monster-hunting franchise to mobile devices. The game is positioned as a more accessible entry point for both longtime fans and newcomers. While Monster Hunter Outlanders marks a significant shift for a franchise traditionally associated with PC
Travel hacks to save on eSIM data packages
Finally, a Klook alternative for eSIM packages has been unveiled. As someone who travels at least once a month on international trips, I’ve been looking for other alternatives to popular eSIM apps apart from eSIM.io and Klook. As a SMART subscriber for more than 10 years, I’ve been on the hunt for something closer to
iPhone 18 and Apple Watch preorder details
Starting today, Oct. 2, subscribers can pre-order the iPhone 18 Pro with Smart Postpaid Plans+ 1499 starting at P3,713 per month, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at P4,050 per month, with zero-interest credit card installment for up to 24 months with select banks. Under this plan, subscribers can enjoy the freedom of having an open-line device, along with
Pokemon Truck mall schedules in Manila
All aboard the Pokemon truck! The Pokémon Company is pleased to announce that the Pokémon Truck will begin its tour of Metro Manila on October 2. The truck welcomed more than 250,000 visitors in total across its tours in Malaysia and Singapore, receiving an enthusiastic response from fans. Now, fans in the Philippines can look
Batang Ligtas Act tightens rules for online platforms
MANILA, Philippines – The Senate on September 30 ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the Batang Ligtas Act, which would expand online child protection requirements and give authorities additional tools to investigate technology-facilitated crimes. The measure consolidates Senate Bill No. 1819 and House Bill No. 9461 and covers online sexual abuse and exploitation of
Foldables through history: How mobile phones evolved through time
MANILA, Philippines – From stylish, portable phones to functionally smart foldables. Last September 9 global tech company Apple revealed the upcoming release of iPhone Duo, boasting a larger and more flexible screen than the usual iPhone. Built with an A20 Pro chipset. 12 GB of RAM and 7.6-inch full display, it’s the first foldable, since
What’s in a name? Why Trump wants to rebrand AI as ‘super intelligence’
US President Donald Trump wants to retire one of the technology sector’s most recognisable acronyms, arguing that the term “artificial intelligence”, or AI, is no longer fit for purpose. On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order directing US federal agencies to replace “artificial intelligence” and “AI” with “super intelligence” and “SI” in official communications and non-statutory documents. He also instructed the White House science adviser to draft a new federal definition. The move...
China stockpiles ASML lithography tools, spurring US calls for complete export ban
Chinese semiconductor plants amassed hundreds of immersion lithography machines worth billions of dollars in recent years, according to former US officials, who urged Washington and its allies to shut down further exports. Chinese-owned fabs had acquired an estimated 343 immersion deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography systems by early 2026, said a report published in late September by the Centre for Technology & Statecraft (CTS), a Washington research group established in August. Co-authored by...
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag3 is smaller, yet lasts longer, and now works with iPhones
These trackers rely on the Galaxy Find Network, which taps on 900 million devices Galaxy devices to help locate your items.
China’s AI compute ambitions demand innovation
China has set a five-year goal for the expansion of intelligent computing capacity to drive artificial intelligence (AI) that calls for a more than fourfold increase on what was in place at the end of June this year. To reach the 2030 target while being blocked by the United States from importing the most advanced Western-made AI chips will require innovation, adaptation and the application and coordination of vast resources. Judging by the 177 per cent increase in capacity achieved in the year...
China’s AI compute ambitions demand innovation
China has set a five-year goal for the expansion of intelligent computing capacity to drive artificial intelligence (AI) that calls for a more than fourfold increase on what was in place at the end of June this year. To reach the 2030 target while being blocked by the United States from importing the most advanced Western-made AI chips will require innovation, adaptation and the application and coordination of vast resources. Judging by the 177 per cent increase in capacity achieved in the year...
Samsung Galaxy A08 brings Gemini, Perplexity, and a 6,000mAh battery at under S$300
You don’t have to break the bank to keep up with the latest Samsung phone features.
Hong Kong users caught off guard as Anthropic tightens VPN access to Claude
US artificial intelligence company Anthropic appears to have stepped up enforcement of geographical restrictions on its Claude models in Hong Kong, with local users reporting abrupt account suspensions after accessing the service through virtual private networks (VPNs). A wave of complaints surfaced on social media platforms X and Reddit on Thursday, as users who had operated accounts for months using VPNs found them suddenly disabled. One Hong Kong-based user posted on the “r/claude” subreddit...
Huawei Mate 90 series gets all-around upgrades in camera and display features
Some variants of Huawei Mate 90 series phones use the new Kirin 9050 Pro processor, which is built upon Huawei’s new LogicFolding Tau chip architecture.
From stock losses to bond bets: 5 figures investors are watching in China
A sell-off in technology stocks pushed mainland Chinese equities to their lowest level in more than a year, even as Beijing stepped up support for the economy with a key interest rate cut. At the same time, Chinese government bonds attracted fresh interest as US Treasury yields climbed to a new high. Here are some figures that have captured market attention this week. China’s CSI 300 Index hits 13-month low Mainland China’s CSI 300 Index dropped 2.2 per cent on Monday to its lowest level since...
Vivo’s new X Fold6 bucks the passport foldable trend with ZEISS cameras
Vivo has unveiled the X Fold6 globally, combining a book-style foldable design with flagship hardware and a ZEISS-powered camera system.
WhatsApp brings parental controls for teens and pre-teens to Singapore
WhatsApp’s new parental controls are designed to give parents more oversight while keeping teens’ personal messages private.
DeepSeek effect? How China’s quant funds thrive amid tight regulatory scrutiny
China’s quantitative investing sector has added 18 new members to the ranks of funds managing more than 10 billion yuan (US$1.5 billion) in assets this year, underlining the industry’s ability to generate competitive returns despite a tight regulatory environment. The firms were among 159 Chinese hedge funds overseeing more than 10 billion yuan each, according to financial news agency Cailian Press. Their growth has been fuelled by technology-driven momentum in the world’s second-largest stock...
Blades of Mirage puts Southeast Asia at its fantasy core
TOKYO, Japan — Amid the flood of fantasy worlds and familiar mythologies on display at Tokyo Game Show 2026, Indonesian developer Agate is betting with their upcoming game, Blades of Mirage, that Southeast Asia itself can be the star of the show. Blades of Mirage draws inspiration from the region’s temples, waterways, folklore, and island
Forgotten Island hits top spot in PH Google search trends
MANILA, Philippines – Dreamworks Animation’s latest feature, ‘’Forgotten Island’ topped Philippine Google Search trends during its premiere week, Google reports. Starring world-class Filipino talents Liza Soberano and H.E.R, the animated blockbuster– which draws heavy inspiration from Filipino culture and folklore has triggered a massive surge in online interest nationwide. According to search data from Google
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