Morgan Stanley expects that global debt issuance linked to AI companies will exceed $500 billion in 2026, driven by aggressive capital expenditure plans from major hyperscalers such as Amazon, Google, and Meta. The bank projects this issuance could rise to around $570 billion as AI firms increasingly turn to alternative funding sources to support expansion.
Recent large-scale financing efforts underline this trend. Alphabet, the parent of Google, recently launched an $85 billion fundraising plan aimed at expanding AI infrastructure such as data centres and computing facilities, and earlier issued a rare 100-year bond to support its AI investments. According to estimates cited by Reuters, AI-related global debt issuance had already reached nearly $236 billion by the end of May 2026, marking a fourfold increase from the previous year.
Strong demand for advanced AI models and the rapid development of agentic AI systems have also prompted companies like Anthropic and OpenAI to scale up spending significantly, with both reportedly preparing for potential public market listings. Their valuations are estimated at about $965 billion and $852 billion respectively.
The heavy computing requirements needed to train and deploy these models are pushing hyperscalers to expand data centre capacity and increase capital spending, with Morgan Stanley forecasting hyperscaler capex could exceed $1 trillion by 2027. It also notes that these firms are diversifying funding sources, including issuing more non-US dollar debt. Amazon recently raised C$14 billion through Canadian dollar-denominated notes and also secured €14.5 billion in one of the largest euro corporate bond deals, highlighting how hyperscalers are tapping global debt markets to finance large-scale AI infrastructure expansion.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
India’s tablet market recorded a 5 per cent year-on-year increase in the first quarter of CY2026, even as smartphone shipments fell 3 per cent during the same period, marking the smartphone segment’s weakest quarterly performance in six years. According to Counterpoint Research, tablet demand remained resilient despite facing the same challenges affecting smartphones, including rising memory costs and broader supply chain pressures. The contrasting performance highlights a shift in consumer spending patterns within the electronics market. While overall demand remains subdued, consumers appear to be allocating more spending towards tablets than smartphones.
Counterpoint noted that tablet average selling prices (ASPs) rose 20 per cent year-on-year, driven by both premiumisation and higher component costs resulting from memory price inflation. Similar cost pressures have impacted the smartphone industry, where rising DRAM and NAND prices have pushed brands to increase launch prices and implement post-launch price revisions. A recent example is the OnePlus Pad Go 2, whose price increased from Rs 26,999 at launch to Rs 28,999. Despite such hikes, tablet shipments continued to grow, suggesting that consumers are less sensitive to price increases in this category than in smartphones.
Anshika Jain, Principal Analyst at Counterpoint Research, said tablet ASPs registered double-digit growth in Q1 2026. While memory inflation contributed to higher prices, its full impact is expected to become more visible from the second quarter as brands raise prices further to offset increasing costs and protect margins.
Growth within the tablet market has been concentrated in larger-screen devices. Tablets with displays larger than 13 inches posted the strongest growth, surging 338 per cent year-on-year. The 12–12.9-inch category expanded 76 per cent, while the 11–11.9-inch segment grew 29 per cent.
eanwhile, smaller devices experienced significant declines. Shipments in the 10–10.9-inch category dropped 76 per cent, while tablets below 9.9 inches fell 52 per cent year-on-year.
The trend reflects growing consumer preference for larger screens that support entertainment, education and productivity use cases. Models such as Lenovo’s Idea Tab series and Samsung’s Ultra series have gained traction, while Apple and Xiaomi introduced new tablets with displays exceeding 12 inches during the quarter. According to Counterpoint, tablets are increasingly being positioned as cost-effective alternatives to both smartphones and laptops, offering greater versatility for content consumption, online learning and work-related tasks. Jain noted that consumers are increasingly viewing tablets as both media and productivity devices, driving demand for larger displays, premium features and higher-end configurations.
On the supply side, domestic tablet manufacturing grew by more than 61 per cent year-on-year. Counterpoint attributed this growth to brands expanding local production and increasing exports, which exceeded 200,000 units during the quarter. Companies such as Lenovo have accelerated local manufacturing efforts, while Xiaomi and OnePlus have also benefited from domestic production. Other brands, including Realme and OPPO, have expanded their manufacturing capabilities in India, strengthening the broader ecosystem.
However, increased localisation has not yet translated into lower prices. Similar to the smartphone market, manufacturers still depend heavily on imported components, particularly for key materials and memory. Sumit Singh, Senior Vice-President and Head of Product at Lava International, previously noted that while assembly operations and some components are now produced locally, many engineering bill-of-materials components continue to be sourced from markets such as China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. As a result, ongoing memory cost inflation is likely to continue influencing device pricing in the near term.
India’s tablet market is growing despite rising prices, driven by increasing demand for larger, premium devices and supported by expanding local manufacturing. In contrast, smartphone shipments continue to decline under similar cost pressures, particularly those linked to memory inflation. The differing performance of the two categories suggests that consumers are redistributing spending across devices rather than signalling a broader recovery in overall consumer electronics demand.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Magnific.
An Indian court ruling that found Google liable for trademark infringement could have significant consequences for the country's digital advertising industry. The decision arose from a case involving bathroom fittings manufacturer Hindware, whose trademarked name was allegedly used by competing companies as a Google advertising keyword.
In its May 22 judgment, the Delhi High Court directed Google to pay damages of approximately $31,600. The court held that Google's advertising practices enabled competitors to bid on the "Hindware" trademark and display targeted advertisements, effectively allowing the commercial use of the brand name without the trademark owner's permission.
The court observed that Google's AdWords system permits the sale or auction of trademarked terms as keywords without authorization from the trademark proprietor. Google responded by stating that it complies with applicable local laws and, when it believes legal orders are overly broad or inconsistent with its policies, it presents its position through the appropriate legal channels.
The ruling has sparked widespread discussion among lawyers, business leaders, and brand managers. Many see it as a landmark decision that could alter how online advertising platforms handle trademarked keywords. Among those welcoming the judgment was Zerodha founder Nithin Kamath, who said his company had faced similar challenges and that the ruling provides a potential legal remedy.
Anupam Mittal, founder of Shaadi.com, also praised the decision, arguing that businesses invest heavily in building brand recognition only to have others capitalize on those efforts by bidding on their trademarks. He suggested the verdict could fundamentally change the economics of online advertising for a large number of businesses in India. The case is particularly significant given India's importance as one of Google's key global markets.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
SK Hynix became the latest chipmaker to surpass a $1 trillion market valuation on Wednesday, joining rivals Samsung Electronics and Micron Technology as investor enthusiasm around AI-powered memory chips continued to surge. SK Hynix shares jumped 9.3% by the close after climbing nearly 15% during trading, pushing its market capitalization to a record 1,680 trillion won ($1.12 trillion). The rally also lifted South Korea’s KOSPI index to fresh highs. Samsung crossed the $1 trillion mark earlier in May, while Micron achieved the milestone a day earlier in the U.S.
The sharp gains have been fueled by soaring demand for advanced memory chips used in AI systems such as those powering NVIDIA hardware. Tight supply conditions have caused memory chip prices to skyrocket, with prices doubling in the first quarter and expected to rise further this quarter due to booming AI data center demand.
South Korea has now become the first country outside the United States to have more than one company valued above $1 trillion. The only other Asian company in the club is TSMC. Driven largely by Samsung and SK Hynix, the KOSPI index gained over 2% and briefly hit a record intraday peak, triggering temporary restrictions on algorithmic trading. Together, the two chipmakers now represent roughly half of the index’s total market value. The KOSPI has emerged as one of the world’s best-performing stock markets during the AI boom, soaring 95% this year after a strong rise last year as well.
Analysts expect memory chip demand to continue outpacing supply for years, supporting elevated prices and stronger earnings. Mirae Asset Securities raised its price targets for both SK Hynix and Samsung, while UBS significantly increased its forecast for Micron, citing long-term AI-driven changes in the memory chip industry.
This year alone, Samsung shares have climbed 149%, SK Hynix has surged 215%, and Micron has risen 245%. Investor excitement has also spread to exchange-traded funds linked to Samsung and SK Hynix. Newly launched leveraged ETFs tied to the companies posted strong double-digit gains on debut, attracting heavy retail investor interest. Analysts noted that ETF-related buying boosted futures markets and further supported stock prices. Retail demand became so intense that the Korea Financial Investment Association’s website briefly crashed as investors rushed to complete mandatory online courses required for leveraged ETF trading.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
Sam Altman said on Tuesday that the fast growth of AI is unlikely to trigger a worldwide “jobs apocalypse,” adding that the technology has not replaced as many white-collar roles as he once expected. Speaking virtually at a conference hosted by Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney, Altman admitted he had previously worried about AI’s effect on employment. While he believes OpenAI’s predictions about technological progress since the 2022 launch of ChatGPT were mostly accurate, he said the company misjudged the broader social and economic impact. Altman noted that he expected more entry-level office jobs to disappear by now, but that had not happened. He said his earlier concerns may have created unnecessary fear, though he still sees job disruption as a possible risk. Although several major companies, including HSBC, Amazon, Standard Chartered, and Commonwealth Bank of Australia, have announced AI-related workforce changes, Altman believes human interaction remains difficult to replace. He shared that he once used AI to answer Slack and email messages under the label “Sam’s AI,” but later returned to responding personally. According to him, the experience highlighted how much people value genuine human connection. That realization, Altman said, changed his view of AI’s future impact on employment, making him less convinced that massive job losses are inevitable.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Bloomberg.
A prolonged and heated courtroom dispute between tech billionaires Elon Musk and Sam Altman has ended in a win for OpenAI’s CEO. Musk says he plans to challenge the decision. The case has raised wider questions about Big Tech influence and the worldwide competition in artificial intelligence. Lucy Hough discusses the outcome with Guardian US tech and power reporter Nick Robins-Early in a YouTube interview.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from The Guardian.
This discussion reviews the 32 final recommendations from Singapore’s Economic Strategy Review aimed at safeguarding workers from AI-driven disruption through measures like career transition pathways and earlier retrenchment assistance. Andrea Heng and Elakeyaa Selvaraji explore how these proposals seek to raise wages in people-focused sectors such as healthcare and education, while building a more proactive system for lifelong learning, featuring insights from Desmond Choo, Minister of State, MINDEF and Deputy Secretary-General of NTUC.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
In Singapore, bots account for about 58 percent of total internet traffic, with over half classified as malicious. As AI-powered bots become more advanced and harder to distinguish from real users, organizations now face the challenge of not just detecting bots but also interpreting their intent. With AI increasingly blurring the boundary between human and automated activity, businesses are under pressure to adapt. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss the implications for online security, trust, and the internet’s future with Garen Ling, Area Vice President of Sales, ASEAN, App Security and Data Security at Thales.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
In 1998, tobacco companies in the United States were made responsible for the damage caused by the products they produced and sold through the Tobacco Settlement. Today, a similar question arises for Big Tech: it is not only about the content on their platforms but also whether these platforms were intentionally created to keep users addicted. Daniel Martin explores this issue with Rajesh Sreenivasan, Head of Technology, Media, and Telecommunications at Rajah and Tann Singapore.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
