GoKawiil
Tech News
New data from research firm Luminate shows CD sales climbing 16 percent so far in 2026, with K-pop acts like BTS, Enhypen and ATEEZ driving much of the growth through collectible editions that encourage fans to buy multiple copies. Even without K-pop sales factored in, CD sales still rose 6.7 percent. The format sold 16.3 million units in the first half of the year, far below its peak of over 900 million annual sales around 2000.
A report describes early deployment of driverless machinery for waste-handling tasks at dump and landfill operations, part of a broader wave of automation coverage that also touched on AI alliances, alternative education paths in tech, and robotics investment in the K-pop industry. Details on the specific companies or technology providers behind the driverless dump equipment were not fully specified.
South Korea's K-pop industry is increasingly incorporating artificial intelligence and robotics into aspects of music creation and live performance. The move has drawn scrutiny from fans and performers who have voiced concerns about the technology's role in an industry built on human artistry.