FridayJan 09, 2026 9:00 am

Boom in Energy Storage Boosts Demand Outlook for Lithium in 2026

Producers of lithium have grappled with limited demand for the mineral years after the boom of 2020-2021 that saw EV battery makers gobbling up any available lithium and driving up prices. Sluggish EV demand has since led to a collapse of lithium carbonate prices and many producers significantly cut their output in the wake of slumping prices. However, an upsurge in the battery energy storage segment has brightened the outlook for lithium this year and a revival of the material is underway. This resurgence has been triggered by reforms that China has instituted in its power sector resulting in increased…

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ThursdayJan 08, 2026 9:00 am

2026 Trends to Watch in the AI Data Center Industry

AI really exploded in 2025 with the growth of agentic AI and widespread use of generative AI. AI heavily relies on data centers to run the LLMs upon which the technology is based, and there are many trends that every watcher of the data center industry should keep an eye on in 2026. We discuss some of the most notable ones. Accelerated adoption of liquid cooling systems is likely to grow within the data center industry this year. AI servers require lots of water to stay cool, and this resource is becoming scarcer and more expensive. As tech companies try…

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TuesdayJan 06, 2026 9:00 am

Tech Firms Focus on Building Data Centers in Space

Several tech firms in the U.S. are advancing efforts to construct data centers in space, powered by solar energy. Google has revealed its intention to launch satellites for this purpose in 2027. OpenAI and SpaceX have also expressed interest in undertaking similar projects. These pioneering tech companies are looking to replace the current Earth-based data centers with alternatives located in space. The driving factor behind this ambition is to address two growing needs. First, data centers consume huge amounts of electricity and already, there are complaints that these facilities are muscling out other users of power and triggering a surge…

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TuesdayDec 30, 2025 9:00 am

Could AI Soon Become a Reliable Medical Diagnostic Tool?

AI has recorded undeniable positive strides in medical diagnosis. The technology has been documented to be accurate at reading X-rays, and cancer screening programs are increasingly leveraging AI. Trials have also shown that the technology can equal and sometimes surpass doctors in telehealth applications. However, many challenges still hound AI use in healthcare, such as issues of accountability, bias, lack of transparency and data privacy concerns. Could AI soon claim a prominent role in medical diagnostics as a reliable tool? In the U.S., the market for AI diagnostic systems is projected to grow from approximately $790m this year to at…

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TuesdayDec 23, 2025 9:00 am

Korean Firms Ramp Up Memory Production as AI Boom Accelerates

Chipmakers in Korea are ramping up their production of memory chips in a bid to take advantage of the currently insatiable demand for these products within the AI industry. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix embody this Korean push to benefit from the intense competition to address the growing AI market. Samsung Electronics has massively increased its output of DRAM (dynamic random access memory) and NAND flash production lines. It has also expanded its output of high-end semiconductor products like HBM (high-bandwidth memory) devices. In November, the firm decided to restart construction work at its Pyeongtaek complex located in Gyeonggi Province.…

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FridayDec 19, 2025 9:00 am

KPMG Survey Finds That Semiconductor Industry is Most Concerned About Supply Chains

According to the preliminary results from a survey that was undertaken by consultancy firm KPMG, players in the U.S. semiconductor industry are most concerned about how trade policy and tariffs will impact their operations. This is the first time that talent hasn’t topped their list of concerns. The yearly Global Semiconductor Outlook, a survey routinely conducted by the consultancy company, revealed that 54% of industry leaders are doubling down on geographically diversifying the supply chains they depend on. This is a big fraction of the 151 executives that the advisory firm polled in the fourth quarter of this year. The…

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ThursdayDec 18, 2025 9:00 am

Retail Sales Remain Unexpectedly Unchanged in the US in October

According to delayed retail sales data released for the month of October, consumers in America spent approximately the same amount as they did the previous month. This was surprising because analysts had expected an uptick in spending due to the positive start that the quarter experienced despite concerns about rising costs of living. On Tuesday, the Commerce Department published data that didn’t show an increase from the patterns captured in September. This latest report had initially been due for release around mid-November, but the government shutdown that lasted 43 days affected data collection and resulted in this late release of…

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TuesdayDec 16, 2025 9:00 am

California to Be Disproportionately Affected by Trump’s New Executive Order on AI

President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order seeking to discourage states from enacting legislation geared at regulating AI within their jurisdiction. Analysts say this order is especially going to impact California, which has passed more laws regulating AI than any other state in the country. Under the order, the FCC (Federal Communication Commission), FTC (Federal Trade Commission), and DOJ (Department of Justice) have been authorized to challenge any AI laws passed by states. The order also urges Congress to pass artificial intelligence laws that will take precedence over any related laws passed at state level. This new executive…

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FridayDec 12, 2025 9:00 am

Oracle Earnings Miss Target, Company Shares Tumble

The shares of cloud computing titan Oracle experienced a more than 10 percent tumble during trading after the company’s earnings report fell short of what analysts had forecast for the recently ended quarter. The company reported $16.06 billion as revenue for the quarter, falling marginally short of the $16.21 billion target that had been forecast by analysts. The company’s revenue grew by 14% overall, while its business in the artificial intelligence segment surged by 68%. However, these stats weren’t sufficient to quell the concerns of investors that are becoming jittery about the possibility of an AI bubble burst as companies…

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ThursdayDec 11, 2025 9:00 am

Australia Starts Implementing Social Media Ban for Kids Under 16

Millions of teenagers and children less than 16 years of age have lost access to their social media accounts after the Australian government started implementing a law that banned social media access to those below 16 years of age. The ban took effect on Wednesday, and several platforms, such as Threads, Facebook, YouTube, X, Instagram, Reddit, Snapchat, TikTok and many others were expected by the government to suspend or deactivate the accounts of Australian users who are below 16 years of age. The platforms are also expected to prevent underage users from opening alternative accounts after the removal of their…

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