Fancy a self-cleaning house? Let a high-end robot step in

The Sydney Morning Herald - Oct 19, 2026

Giving time-poor Australians back hours in their day, robot vacuums, window cleaners, lawn mowers and pool cleaners are laying the foundation for self-maintaining homes.

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Apple says iPhone Duo demand is “extraordinary” as shipping dates slip to late January 2027

Oct 19, 2026

Apple says iPhone Duo demand is “extraordinary” as shipping dates slip to late January 2027

Pre-orders for Apple’s first foldable iPhone have pushed estimated delivery dates into late January 2027, but it’s unclear whether this reflects strong demand or limited launch inventory.

CXMT forecasts up to US$19.8 billion in 3 quarters’ net income; pledges share buy-back

Oct 18, 2026

CXMT forecasts up to US$19.8 billion in 3 quarters’ net income; pledges share buy-back

Chinese memory chip giant ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) forecast a net income of up to US$19.8 billion for the first nine months of 2026, marking a dramatic swing from a loss a year ago, as the domestic champion cashed in on artificial intelligence-driven demand while aggressively challenging global rivals including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Meanwhile, Zhu Yiming, chairman of the Hefei-based memory giant, proposed to buy back 1 billion (US$149.56 million) to 2 billion yuan of...

Hyundai Motor steps up physical AI push amid Chinese competition, stock slump

Oct 18, 2026

Hyundai Motor steps up physical AI push amid Chinese competition, stock slump

UIWANG, South Korea — Seeking to remain competitive against fast-growing Chinese automakers and find new sources of growth amid a sharp retreat in its share price, Hyundai Motor Group is stepping up its push into robotics and physical artificial intelligence (AI). The move comes as the world's third-largest automotive group faces growing pressure to improve profitability in its conventional carmaking business amid intensifying competition in the global electric vehicle (EV) market, particularly from lower-priced Chinese models. Investors are also questioning when the group's heavy investments in robotics will start to pay off. Hyundai Motor Co.'s shares more than doubled after its U.S. subsidiary Boston Dynamics unveiled its Atlas humanoid robot at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, reaching a record closing high of 755,000 won ($565.2) in June. But the stock has since fallen sharply to near pre-CES levels, closing at 312,000 won Friday, as enthusiasm over robotics has faded amid weak earnings and growing concerns about how soon the technology can turn profitable. Speculati

Korea Eximbank, IFC seek to deepen cooperation in strategic industries

Oct 18, 2026

Korea Eximbank, IFC seek to deepen cooperation in strategic industries

Hwang Ki-yeon, chairman and CEO of the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank), met with Makhtar Diop, managing director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), to discuss ways to strengthen strategic financial cooperation between the two institutions, the bank said Sunday. The meeting took place Friday on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand. The two institutions agreed to expand their existing cooperation on infrastructure and energy projects in developing countries into new strategic areas, including critical mineral supply chains and innovative and high-tech industries. Korea Eximbank plans to leverage the World Bank Group's multilateral cooperation platforms and financing instruments to help stabilize global supply chains and strengthen cooperation across the critical minerals value chain. The bank also intends to expand joint financing for innovative and high-tech sectors, including emerging green industries, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure. "By working closely with global financial institutions, including the

Telecom firms, science ministry urged to prove 5G standalone reliability

Oct 18, 2026

Telecom firms, science ministry urged to prove 5G standalone reliability

The planned rollout of 5G standalone (SA) services is renewing calls for telecom operators and the ICT ministry to deliver more reliable connections amid concerns that the transition could repeat the shortcomings of the initial 5G rollout unless consumers see tangible improvements in service quality. The Ministry of Science and ICT made the 5G SA adoption a policy priority late last year, requiring telecoms to transition to the technology as a condition for mobile spectrum reallocation. SK Telecom and LG Uplus are targeting commercial launch of 5G SA services by the end of this year, joining KT, which introduced SA support for the iPhone 17 series in March. Unlike earlier 5G networks that rely on a fourth-generation (4G) LTE core, 5G SA uses a dedicated 5G core to reduce latency and support applications such as autonomous driving and physical artificial intelligence (AI). The rollout comes amid lingering concerns over service reliability, with consumers having faced higher bills but limited improvements over LTE during the initial 5G transition. If operators seek to charge more for SA-b

Hyundai Motor moves to sidestep self-driving fallout in India

Oct 18, 2026

Hyundai Motor moves to sidestep self-driving fallout in India

Hyundai Motor’s bet on India is being overshadowed by Tesla’s technological leap toward flying cars, exposing the Korean carmaker’s self-driving doldrums. Hyundai Motor Group recently pledged $15.5 billion (20.7 trillion won) in investment in India through 2032, seeking to strengthen its position in one of the world’s fastest-growing major automotive markets. The commitment spans manufacturing expansion, research and development, supplier development and next-generation technologies. However, the scale of the investment does not guarantee that India will become a reliable growth engine capable of offsetting mounting challenges in its cash-cow markets, such as the United States, Korea and Europe. Hyundai Motor and Kia sold a combined roughly 850,000 vehicles in India last year, with sales growth of just 0.2 percent. That performance lagged significantly behind local rivals Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors, whose sales rose 18.4 percent and 2.9 percent, respectively, during the same period. The gap reflects a competitive landscape in which established domestic players have streng

Musk's criticism of Samsung, SK's memory chip pricing runs counter to market logic: expert

Oct 18, 2026

Musk's criticism of Samsung, SK's memory chip pricing runs counter to market logic: expert

Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s latest criticism of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix over their memory chip pricing defies market realities, as any chipmaker that undercuts prevailing prices risks selling out immediately and leaving other customers without supplies, a prominent U.S. chip analyst said. Jim Handy, founder and general director of semiconductor research firm Objective Analysis, challenged Musk's recent description of the Korean chipmakers' prices as “extortionate,” compared with those of their U.S. rival Micron. The chip expert underscored that memory prices are determined by market forces rather than individual suppliers. “Memory makers do not set their parts’ pricing — the market determines the pricing,” Handy said in a written interview with The Korea Times, Sunday. “In that light, it is hard to understand Musk’s comment.” Musk is looking to manufacture chips in-house through his Terafab project, with soaring memory prices an increasingly pressing concern for his ambitions. He posted on X on Tuesday (local time), “Micron has been reasonable regarding future m

FTC's costly crackdown on conglomerates generates little return

Oct 18, 2026

FTC's costly crackdown on conglomerates generates little return

The Fair Trade Commission’s (FTC) increasingly aggressive crackdown on major conglomerates is generating a costly cycle with little tangible return, as the watchdog has been forced to refund billions of won in fines overturned by courts. The watchdog has returned nearly 290 billion won ($216.7 million) to companies since 2022 after administrative court rulings overturned its sanctions. The figures raise questions about whether the regulator’s tougher enforcement produces lasting results or simply creates more legal and financial burdens for both businesses and taxpayers. The latest figures offer little reassurance. For the first nine months combined this year, the FTC returned 23 billion won in fines and associated payments, with 99.7 percent of the amount attributable to sanctions overturned in whole or in part through administrative litigation, according to data submitted to Rep. Choi Eun-seok of the main opposition People Power Party. But the regulator is moving in the opposite direction. Since President Lee Jae Myung took office last year, the government has pushed to strengthen

The AI promise was automation. The reality? Managing digital workers

Oct 18, 2026

The AI promise was automation. The reality? Managing digital workers

When artificial intelligence agents first arrived, they came with a tantalising promise: autonomous “digital workers” that would finally free humans from corporate drudgery. As businesses across Asia are discovering, however, the reality is quite the opposite – more work, new friction and a whole new layer of management. When Xiao Mengjie, an AI product marketing manager at a Big Tech firm in Shanghai, recently assigned two AI agents what she described as a simple task, she expected efficiency....

[Reporter's Notebook] FTC's costly crackdown on conglomerates generates little return

Oct 18, 2026

[Reporter's Notebook] FTC's costly crackdown on conglomerates generates little return

The Fair Trade Commission’s (FTC) increasingly aggressive crackdown on major conglomerates is generating a costly cycle with little tangible return, as the watchdog has been forced to refund billions of won in fines overturned by courts. The watchdog has returned nearly 290 billion won ($216.7 million) to companies since 2022 after administrative court rulings overturned its sanctions. The figures raise questions about whether the regulator’s tougher enforcement produces lasting results or simply creates more legal and financial burdens for both businesses and taxpayers. The latest figures offer little reassurance. For the first nine months combined this year, the FTC returned 23 billion won in fines and associated payments, with 99.7 percent of the amount attributable to sanctions overturned in whole or in part through administrative litigation, according to data submitted to Rep. Choi Eun-seok of the main opposition People Power Party. But the regulator is moving in the opposite direction. Since President Lee Jae Myung took office last year, the government has pushed to strengthen

Apple’s new HomePod mini 2 speakers feature Sound Glow and will eventually support Siri AI

Oct 18, 2026

Apple’s new HomePod mini 2 speakers feature Sound Glow and will eventually support Siri AI

It’s been six years since the first HomePod mini, so now we are getting a much-needed update to keep it fresh.

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