South Korea is to establish a new semiconductor fund worth 5 trillion won (USD 3.52 billion), according to a presidential official. This fund aims to support promising companies involved in chip materials, parts, equipment, and fabless design. The move represents part of Seoul's broader strategy to accelerate the development of new chip manufacturing hubs nationwide.

Chinese start-ups and research organisations are rapidly advancing brain-computer interfaces, or BCIs, capable of implantation within minutes, according to the South China Morning Post. This development positions Beijing's home-grown players to compete directly with Elon Musk's Neuralink. The Chinese devices allow patients to control digital technology through thought alone, inserted via a vein rather than traditional brain surgery.

OpenAI stated its upcoming artificial intelligence model, Astra, cannot be definitively ruled out as possessing critical cybersecurity capabilities. This assessment has led the organisation to halt certain internal development operations and activate established safety protocols. Such measures are a direct response to preliminary evaluations concerning Astra's potential functionalities.