Technology 13/4: YouTube raises prices in the U.S. as OpenAI launches ChatGPT Pro

Premium gym chains are entering a “golden era” that is ending or already in decline, as rising operating costs collide with shifting consumer preferences toward more flexible, community-based ways to exercise. Long-term memberships are shrinking, margins are pressured by higher rents and facility expenses, and competition from smaller, more personalized…

Although Hoa Sen Group chairman Le Phuoc Vu has made remarks that have drawn mixed reactions in the market, the group’s long-standing sponsorship of the “Vietnamese Family Housing” program and the charitable activities funded by Hoa Sen cannot be overlooked. In videos related to the program, Mr. Vu is shown…

On 3 April 2026, following its launch in Ho Chi Minh City, Nagakawa Group (ticker: NAG - HNX) continued its “Call me Naga” journey to Hanoi, accelerating the brand’s transformation toward a younger image and introducing a series of new products for summer 2026. The “Naga” name was selected as…

The State Securities Commission (SSC) has revoked the public company status of Hanoi Joint Stock Company for Electrical and Water Installation. The decision was issued through Official Dispatch No. 2607/UBCK-GSĐC on April 3, according to information published on the SSC portal. SSC’s decision On April 3, the SSC issued Official…

Investing $250,000 per year in AI or risk being phased out, Nvidia CEO warns as 98% of developers use AI-assisted coding

Silicon Valley faces unemployment fears as AI can write code. Should people still learn programming when AI can perform many tasks? The Verge reports that AI-powered coding tools—once seen as quirky interns—are rapidly evolving, pushing the software industry into a major overhaul. From 'vibe coding' to the ghost of 'SaaSpocalypse',…

Nationwide 5G download speeds decline for the second consecutive month as upload speeds fall about 30%; Viettel remains the leading carrier

Data from the i-Speed speed testing platform of the Vietnam Internet Center shows that nationwide mobile 5G speeds continued to trend lower for the second consecutive month. Specifically, the average download speed reached 471.23 Mbps, down 86.11 Mbps (about 15%) from 557.34 Mbps in February 2026. Meanwhile, the upload speed…

Early 2026: 80,000 tech workers laid off, half due to AI

In the first three months of 2026, 80,000 technology workers were laid off, with AI cited as responsible for roughly half of the job cuts, according to Nikkei Asia Review. The reported wave has rattled Silicon Valley and other global tech hubs, while industry insiders describe it as an early…

Google's AI memory-saving algorithm cuts memory use by eight times, spurring concerns among chipmakers as Samsung posts record Q1 earnings

The semiconductor market has seen weeks of volatility after reports emerged about Google’s TurboQuant, an AI memory-saving algorithm. The technology is designed to reduce the memory required to run artificial intelligence, potentially challenging major memory-chip suppliers such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Rather than triggering a collapse in demand,…

Less than 20% of cross-border personal data impact assessments meet standards

As cross-border digital transactions expand, Vietnam’s Personal Data Protection Law—effective early this year—requires agencies, organizations, and individuals transferring personal data across borders to prepare a cross-border personal data transfer impact assessment (PIA) dossier. Regulators, however, say the proportion of PDIA dossiers that meet required standards remains low. Low pass rate…

Alibaba's Qwen nears 1 billion downloads, far ahead of rivals combined

February 2026 saw Qwen set a record with 153.6 million downloads in a single month, accounting for more than 50% of the total open-source AI downloads across the industry, more than double the combined total of the eight next-largest competitors. Alibaba's open-source AI model suite Qwen is nearing the 1…

TSMC posts $35.7 billion in Q1 2026 revenue on AI-driven demand

TSMC reported that first-quarter 2026 revenue rose 35% year-on-year, reaching 1,134 trillion Taiwanese dollars (about $35.71 billion). The company said the result was driven by strong demand for artificial intelligence (AI) applications and exceeded analysts’ forecasts, while also falling within the revenue guidance it had issued earlier in the year.…