Technology (opens original source in a new tab)OpenGov AsiaVietnam: AI, Digitalisation Reshape the Office Space MarketAI, digitalisation and GCC growth are reshaping Vietnam’s office market, driving demand for smarter, more flexible and increasingly technology-enabled workspaces across the country and supporting sustainable business growth. (opens original source in a new tab)OpenGov AI·23 August 2026
Technology (opens original source in a new tab)OpenGov AsiaMalaysia: Student Cooperatives Embrace Digital TransformationMalaysia’s student cooperatives are embracing digital platforms, e-commerce and digital payments to engage Gen Z, expand business opportunities and strengthen entrepreneurship. (opens original source in a new tab)OpenGov AI·23 August 2026
Technology (opens original source in a new tab)OpenGov AsiaIndonesia, China Deepen Digital and AI CooperationIndonesia and China are deepening cooperation on digital technology, AI, technology transfers and semiconductor manufacturing through a new bilateral working group focused on mutual benefit and innovation. (opens original source in a new tab)OpenGov AI·23 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)Axios2028 Dems dodge on Bernie's push to pause AI developmentDemocratic presidential hopefuls are scrambling to seize on the growing public backlash against AI. But none will go as far as Bernie Sanders and his recent <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/10/sanders-ai-deve (opens original source in a new tab)Holly Otterbein·23 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)AxiosTexas welcomed the AI boom. Now Abbott says data centers "dug their own grave"Texas Gov. Greg Abbott delivered one of the starkest warnings yet from a Republican to the AI industry, saying data center companies "dug their own grave" and deserve the backlash they're facing after failing to win community support.Why it matters: Abbott is the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/19/josh-shapiro-ai-data-centers-pivot" (opens original source in a new tab)Andrew Pantazi·23 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)AxiosScoop: Syria and Israel move to defuse tensions after airbase bombingHigh-level Israeli and Syrian officials met Sunday in an effort to lower the temperature between the countries after a recent airbase bombing, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter.Why it matters: The meeting between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and the director of Israel's Mossad spy agency, Roman Gofman, took place days after an Is (opens original source in a new tab)Barak Ravid·23 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)AxiosDems turning more GOP Senate strongholds into midterm battlegroundsTen weeks from Election Day, the Senate battlefield is sprawling, scattered — and stretching deep into Trump country.Why it matters: In a normal year, Republicans wouldn't think twice about Alaska, Kansas, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska or Texas. This isn't a normal year.Republicans expect all six states to revert to their MAGA mean. But they're not bettin (opens original source in a new tab)Hans Nichols·23 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)AxiosSynthetic everything is warping AmericaA shadowy polling firm confessed this week to faking survey results in two marquee races — then claimed the entire operation was a "short-term social experiment" on misinformation.Why it matters: An AI-enabled flood of synthetic and outright fabricated content is wreaking havoc on reality, poisoning the signals people rely on to understand politics, business and culture. (opens original source in a new tab)Neal Rothschild·23 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)AxiosFlock cameras join data centers as a top AI boogeyman in 2026 midtermsFlock cameras are joining data centers as a top midterm boogeyman, with members of Congress and congressional candidates trying to harness a sudden groundswell of grassroots anger over the AI surveillance tool.Why it matters: This blowup over the country's massive network of license plate readers illustrates how rapidly AI has morphed from a peripheral issue in nat (opens original source in a new tab)Andrew Solender·23 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)South China Morning PostChina’s overlooked internet army is quietly embedding AI into everyday businessesWhile China’s new “AI tigers” have captured global attention for challenging Silicon Valley front-runners, a quieter wave of domestic technology companies is building in-house artificial intelligence systems serving everyday users. Beyond pure-play AI labs like DeepSeek, Z.ai (also known as Zhipu AI), Moonshot AI and MiniMax, consumer-facing platforms that span e-commerce, video gaming, social media and travel are developing foundation models tailored to their own business ecosystems, in efforts (opens original source in a new tab)Ben Jiang·23 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)South China Morning PostAlibaba to issue HK$80 billion in new shares for global AI pushAlibaba Group Holding will issue HK$80 billion worth of new shares and use the entire proceeds to invest in AI, the Chinese tech giant said on Sunday. The move aims to “extend the company’s global AI leadership”, according to the company. It will use the funds raised to “invest in its full stack AI capabilities”, including expanding and enhancing its AI infrastructure, Alibaba said. Last week, Alibaba announced a 45 per cent of year-over-year jump in its second-quarter revenue in cloud and AI... (opens original source in a new tab)Xinmei Shen,Ann Cao·23 August 2026
