THE HOT STORY

AI users fear unreliability of chatbots

Interviews with more than 80,000 users of Anthropic’s Claude chatbot across 159 countries have contributed to one of the most detailed snapshots yet of how people use AI. The report found that AI in the workplace to automate tasks was one of the biggest use cases of the technology, although some people said they feared they would lose cognitive abilities in the process. Nearly half of lawyers interviewed said they had encountered AI unreliability firsthand, but they also reported the highest rates of realised decision-making benefits of any profession. Over a quarter (27%) of respondents said they were concerned about AI making poor or incorrect decisions, and 22% said they were fearful about the technology's impact on jobs and the economy. Users in North America, Western Europe and Oceania were worried more about governance gaps, regulatory failure, and surveillance; those in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and South Asia were much more positive about AI.

EdTech Innovation Hub

Euronews

Financial Times

ECONOMY

China touts itself as safe, reliable and stable

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has pledged to further open the country's economy to foreign businesses and pursue more balanced trade with its global partners. Li told the China Development Forum in Beijing that China will import more high-quality foreign goods and work with all parties to promote optimised and balanced trade development. He also touted China as a safer, and more reliable and stable, partner in contrast to an America embroiled in a war with Iran. Li didn’t directly name the US. Global chief executives including Apple’s Tim Cook, UBS’s Sergio Ermotti and HSBC’s Georges Elhedery attended the annual two-day gathering.

Financial Times

Reuters

REMUNERATION

Singapore's family-run firms 'lack pay transparency'

Singapore-listed companies often have executive directors who are substantial shareholders or related to them, according to a study by the National University of Singapore Business School's Centre for Investor Protection. The report, "Paying for Value or Just Paying More?", found that about 75% of these directors receive higher compensation, raising concerns about excessive pay. “There remains a lack of transparency on remuneration paid to key management personnel and employees who are related to substantial shareholders, directors and CEOs,” said Mak Yuen Teen said, lead author of the study.

Straits Times

WORKPLACE

Odisha issues guidelines to tackle heatwave

The state government of Odisha has introduced guidelines to protect workers from heatstroke during the summer months. The Labour and Employees' State Insurance department has instructed revenue commissioners and district collectors to ensure compliance. From April 1 to June 15, outdoor work should be avoided between 11 am and 3 pm. Employers must provide safe drinking water, shaded rest areas, and medical support. The department emphasised the need for precautionary measures, especially for essential services. Health officials are also urged to be prepared for heat-related cases.

The Times of India

LEADERSHIP

HSBC names new AI chief

HSBC has appointed David Rice as its first chief AI officer, a newly-created position. Previously the chief operating officer for the corporate and institutional banking division, Mr Rice will lead the bank's AI strategy. Chief executive Georges Elhedery says AI will improve returns and tailor services to customer needs but insists that the bank will keep "human judgment, decision-making and accountability at the core."

The Times

REGULATION

Hong Kong securities watchdog urges stock exchange to tighten rules

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong has recommended improvements to the stock exchange's regulations to enhance investor protection following a review of compliance and enforcement cases in 2024. The SFC's findings, based on an assessment of listed companies' internal control reviews and late auditor resignations, highlighted the need for the exchange to ensure that companies address internal control deficiencies before publishing financial statements. The SFC noted that while the stock exchange had responded to previous recommendations, further improvements are necessary. "The latest report made further recommendations in several areas for improvement," the SFC said. Additionally, the SFC suggested updating market guidance to minimize the frequency of late auditor resignations that delay financial disclosures.

South China Morning Post

LEGAL

First detentions for design theft in Korea

South Korea has indicted individuals for the first time on charges of alleged intellectual property theft related to sunglass designs. The Ministry of Intellectual Property's Technology Police and the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office announced the charges under the Unfair Competition Prevention and Trade Secret Protection Act. Those indicted included the head of a company accused of importing and selling products that copied the style of another company's goods. The company head allegedly imported and sold 321,000 counterfeit items worth 12.3bn won ($8.21m). Intellectual Property Minister Kim Yong-sun said: "This is the first case in which a suspect was punished and detained for selling an exact copy of an unregistered new product design." The ministry said it aims to enforce stricter penalties for design infringements.

Korea Joongang Daily

INTERNATIONAL

Germany's car industry 'could learn from China's disciplined industrial planning'

Volkswagen chief executive Oliver Blume has told Bild am Sonntag that Germany's car industry could learn from China's disciplined industrial planning. "The Chinese proceed in a very ⁠planned way . . . and have clear priorities - it is structured in an optimal way," Blume told the newspaper in an interview. "What we experience very positively in China is a high level of discipline and willingness to execute," he said. "It is ‌worth ⁠looking beyond our own backyard . . . we can learn a great deal from how the country has developed." Blume reiterated Volkswagen's plans to cut 50,000 German jobs by ⁠2030 as part of an ongoing restructuring.

Reuters

Americans' outlook on job market turns increasingly pessimistic

According to a Gallup survey, Americans' perceptions of the US job market have become increasingly negative, with only 28% of workers believing it is a "good time" to find a quality job. This marks a significant decline from mid-2022, when 70% felt optimistic. The survey, conducted in late 2025, highlights a stark divide in sentiment based on education, with just 19% of workers with a college degree thinking that now is a good time to find a quality job, while 35% of workers without a college degree are optimistic. The Gallup results come as government data shows that overall hiring is at its weakest level in more than a decade.

U.S. News

OTHER

K beer exports surge abroad as domestic demand declines

South Korea’s beer market is weakening at home but seeing rapid growth overseas, particularly in Taiwan and Mongolia, where exports have surged on the back of the Korean Wave and expanding retail distribution. Beer exports to Taiwan rose in 2025, while Mongolia has become the largest export market, driven by strong demand among younger consumers and improved access through convenience store networks. With domestic consumption falling due to changing drinking habits, Korean brewers are increasingly focusing on international expansion, viewing overseas markets as critical to future growth.

ChosunBiz

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