Global Scans · Transhumanism · Weekly Summary

• [New] The A9 Max 2026 Edition debuts as the world's first Mini PC powered by the AMD Ryzen AI 9 H 465 processor, while the IT13 Max 2026 Edition becomes the first Mini PC to feature the Intel Core Ultra 7366 H. Bastillepost
• [New] Industry sentiment on X, from figures like Peter H. Diamandis, warns of massive corporate disruptions due to AI automation, with models like GPT-5.2 potentially automating 71% of knowledge work. WebProNews
• [New] The U.S. could boost the H-1B program's economic benefit by 88% over a decade without increasing the annual visa cap. City Journal
• [New] Western Chelan County in Washington, including Stehekin and Stevens Pass, is expecting 13-25 cm (5-10 inches) of snow with gusts up to 55 km/h (35 mph). The Watchers
• [New] The new weighted selection will better serve Congress' intent for the H-1B program and strengthen America's competitiveness by incentivizing American employers to petition for higher-paid, higher-skilled foreign workers. USCIS
• [New] Going into 2026, with restrictions on H 200s loosened and reporting that DeepSeek is still training on smuggled Nvidia, easier access to TSMC-fabbed Nvidia chips may be just what DeepSeek needs to get their mojo back. / China ChinaTalk
• [New] The period 2026-2027 will see the first commercial-scale demonstrations of H-DRI plants, and the refractory solutions developed for them will be closely watched. Creatives
• [New] Global variations in secondary and H 2-DRI-EAF steel developments are attributed to different natural endowments such as iron ore quality and potential for affordable renewable energy, as well as scrap availability. Nature
• [New] The revisions of the EU ETS will effectively subsidise the production of low-emission intermediate products used in H 2-DRI-EAF steelmaking during 2026-2033. Nature
• [New] China is experimenting with vacuum tube maglev concepts that could push speeds beyond 600 km/h. Yahoo News
• [New] China is exploring vacuum tube maglev concepts that could exceed speeds of 600 km/h. Sustainability Times
• [New] Tech entrepreneurs - including Trump's former ally Elon Musk - have warned against targeting H-1B visas, saying that the US does not have enough homegrown talent to fill important tech sector job vacancies. Al Jazeera
• Three independent research teams supported by NEI found a gene, called complement factor H, that affects a person's risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people over age 60. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• A significant revision of the EU ETS is that the H2 - DR technology will receive free allocation which effectively subsidises production of H 2-DR-based steel in the time-period from year 2026 to 2033. Nature
• Adding secondary steel and H 2-DRI-EAF capacity are the most cost optimal investment routes over the period 2026-2035. Nature
• The global steel production system will change the coming years to 2035 as a consequence of the emergence of scrap-EAF and H 2-DRI-EAF as competitive low-emission options. Nature
• As the FTC trial and H-1B policy debates unfold, Amazon's ability to balance resilience with reinvention will define its relevance in an increasingly regulated and competitive tech landscape. Ainvest
• The shift to a wage-based H-1B lottery system could force Amazon to prioritize higher-cost labour, eroding marginsAmazon to Restart Green Cards for Foreign Workers in 2025. Ainvest

Last updated: 05 January 2026