TechCapsules

The job market for recent computer‑science graduates has cooled sharply as AI tools take over routine coding tasks. A recent Associated Press analysis shows only about 7.1 % of new CS and computer‑engineering graduates are employed, far below the hiring surge that peaked in early 2022 during the pandemic‑driven coding boom. Employers now favor candidates who can supervise and critique AI‑generated code rather than write it from scratch, a skill set more common among seasoned workers. Colleges are responding [...]

Taiwan, long a semiconductor powerhouse, is rapidly reshaping Asia’s AI‑related trade network. Intra‑Asian exports of AI‑enabling chips, components and equipment have nearly doubled since pre‑COVID, reaching about US$2 trillion and representing one‑third of the continent’s total exports. Taiwan’s share of global intermediate AI‑hardware inputs has almost doubled in ten years, with roughly 80 % of its shipments now classified as AI‑related—the highest concentration in Asia. Trade with ASEAN surged 77 % to US$47.4 billion in Q1, making the bloc a quarter [...]

Xi Jinping’s Washington visit underscores China’s pivot to hard‑technology, with AI at the forefront of bilateral talks. Both sides have agreed to an “AI hotline” to prevent runaway systems. Beijing’s hard‑tech surge, accelerated by U.S. sanctions and supply‑chain restrictions, is evident in the success of ChangXin Memory Technologies and Unitree Robotics. The 15th Five‑Year Plan (2026‑2030) outlines a strategy for technological sovereignty, while Xi’s directives in Shanghai and Beijing emphasize early, long‑term investment in basic research and [...]

Qwen has launched its Qwen 3.8‑Omni‑Flash multimodal model, priced at $0.15 per million input tokens and $0.47 per million output tokens, compared with Google’s Gemini 3.8 Flash at $0.75 and $3.75 respectively. The model targets AI agents, processing audio and video simultaneously, and claims performance close to Gemini on audio‑video tasks. Qwen estimates audio input costs under $0.01 per hour and a 720p video with audio at roughly $0.20, excluding response generation. The model is available via Qwen Studio, Qwen [...]

KLH Aziznagar inaugurated the IEEE International Conference on AI and Security for Industrial IoT Systems (AI‑SIIS 2026) on September 24, 2026. The three‑day event, concluding on September 26, attracted researchers, industry leaders, academicians, and students to discuss how artificial intelligence can enhance security and reliability in industrial IoT systems. A total of 886 papers were submitted, with 187 accepted and 123 slated for presentation. Over 100 participants, including prominent speakers from Spain, Germany, Sri Lanka, and India, [...]

Australian artist Ben Quilty and 250 other creators allege that OpenAI scraped every image of their work from the internet without permission, claiming a massive theft of creative labor. The claim follows a similar accusation against a novel by Quilty’s wife, Kylie Needham, and has drawn criticism from Microsoft’s applied‑science director, who described the act as the “largest theft of labour in human history.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese publicly confronted OpenAI over the Medicare data breach, yet [...]

At Nigeria Fintech Week 2026, a panel titled “Artificial Intelligence at Work” highlighted how Nigerian fintechs prioritize practical AI applications over global doomsday fears. Moderated by David Afolayan, the discussion focused on the gap between AI adoption and human oversight, coined “cognitive surrender.” CEOs from VFD Technologies, CBI Technologies, and Advansio emphasized the need for robust, secure infrastructure to handle large volumes of financial data and the importance of verifying AI outputs. The session underscored that speed [...]

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Commerce reported a 31% rise in commercial registrations for artificial intelligence activities in 2026, totaling 24,552. The growth was driven by expansions in computer programming, information and communications, and logistics services, which saw a 25% increase to 32,154 registrations. Creative arts, cybersecurity, and electronic games also grew, with 8,650, 11,275, and 977 registrations respectively. The Kingdom designated 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence, bolstering AI infrastructure through Humain and a partnership with