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AI in ASIA
Monday, 5 January 2026

3Before9

3 must-know AI stories before your 9am coffee

Who should pay attention

Technology executives | Supply chain managers | AI developers | Policy makers

What changes next

The growing compute arms race will further drive GPU demand and data centre expansion in APAC. Subsequently, this will have implications on infrastructure, power policy, and sustainability debates.

1

Chips & supply chains

The US just gave TSMC (and Samsung, SK Hynix) a new annual licence to keep importing US chipmaking tools into their China fabs.

Why it matters for Asia

this keeps mature-node supply steadier while export controls tighten, reducing near-term supply shock risk across Asia’s electronics and automotive supply chains.

2

ChatGPT workflow change

ChatGPT change: Voice in the macOS desktop app is being retired on 15 January 2026

Why it matters for Asia

if you rely on Mac desktop voice workflows, you’ll need to shift to web, mobile, or Windows, and update any team enablement or personal workflows accordingly.

3

Before-9 (5 January 2026)

Three AI signals you should know before 9am

3

China AI governance

China’s Cybersecurity Law amendments are coming into force with explicit AI-related provisions.

Why it matters for Asia

formal AI governance language inside a core cybersecurity regime usually signals tighter expectations on AI deployment, oversight, and accountability for companies operating in or selling into China. ## Bonus signal (too big to ignore) xAI is scaling compute aggressively through new facilities to expand training capacity Why it matters for Asia: the compute arms race keeps pushing GPU demand, energy constraints, and data centre expansion across APAC, with knock-on effects for infrastructure, power policy, and sustainability debates. That’s your 3-Before-9. If one of these matters to your work today, it’s worth acting on before the inbox fills up. Got a signal we should be tracking? Send it through [here](https://www.aiinasia.com/contact) or [sign up](https://www.aiinasia.com/contact) for news alerts.

Bonus Signal

(too big to ignore) xAI is scaling compute aggressively through new facilities to expand training capacity Why it matters for Asia: the compute arms race keeps pushing GPU demand, energy constraints, and data centre expansion across APAC, with knock-on effects for infrastructure, power policy, and sustainability debates. That’s your 3-Before-9. If one of these matters to your work today, it’s worth acting on before the inbox fills up. Got a signal we should be tracking? Send it through [here](https://www.aiinasia.com/contact) or [sign up](https://www.aiinasia.com/contact) for news alerts.

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Monday

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  • 1.OpenAI's head of robotics resigned due to the company's decision to deploy its AI models on the Pentagon's classified cloud networks, citing a lack of clear guardrails for domestic surveillance and lethal autonomy.
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  • 3.The incident underscores that governance concerns are not merely external criticism but represent a significant internal operational risk for AI vendors and enterprise buyers alike.
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Friday

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Wednesday

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  • 1.Anthropic's refusal to allow military use of its AI led to a US government ban, prompting industry-wide calls for ethical AI limits and boosting consumer support for Claude.
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Monday

2 March 2026

  • 1.Vietnam has implemented a new AI Act, becoming the first Southeast Asian nation with a comprehensive regulatory framework for artificial intelligence.
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