> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://newsletters.qs.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # 🤖 Latest AI models yet to master new benchmarks. Aus lagged research funds. US led health spending per capita. - URL: https://newsletters.qs.com/latest-ai-models-yet-to-master-new-benchmarks-aus-lagged-research-funds-us-led-health-spending-per-capita/ - Published: 2026-01-23T12:30:18.000Z - Updated: 2026-01-23T12:30:17.000Z - Description: Chart of the Day #526 looks at Australia’s state funding for research, global healthcare spending per capita, and latest AI benchmarks. - Author: QS - Tags: Charts **Welcome,** MSDE to [boost](https://currentaffairs.adda247.com/msde-signs-landmark-mou-with-wef-to-boost-vocational-education-and-skills/amp/?ref=newsletters.qs.com) vocational education and skills. Arizona [strengthens](https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2026/01/23/arizona-power-americas-semiconductor-revolution.html?ref=newsletters.qs.com) semi-conductor Workforce. Kenya And UK [deepen](https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2026/01/kenya-uk-deepen-healthcare-partnerships-to-drive-uhc-and-economic-growth/?ref=newsletters.qs.com) healthcare workforce partnerships. MSU to [offer](https://www.king5.com/article/syndication/associatedpress/msu-to-offer-ai-studies-across-all-majors-amid-push-for-digital-ready-workforce/616-8f09ded0-9f9a-405f-b202-92a6109ec38d?ref=newsletters.qs.com) AI studies amid push for digital-ready workforce. Sparkli [releases](https://mezha.net/eng/bukvy/sparkli-launches-ai-powered-interactive-learning-app-for-kids/?ref=newsletters.qs.com) an AI-based interactive learning app designed for early childhood education. BSCTC and Kentucky Power [partner](https://www.paintsvilleherald.com/news/bsctc-workforce-solutions-partners-with-kentucky-power-for-new-workforce-training/article%5F9a055f0d-77cb-4cd4-8526-fff30e8bb341.html?ref=newsletters.qs.com) for workforce training. IIT Madras has[ launched ](https://dtinews.dantri.com.vn/vietnam-today/vietnam-and-germany-expand-digital-classrooms-in-vocational-training-20260122192543507.htm?ref=newsletters.qs.com)six free Hindi-language AI courses on its SWAYAM Plus platform. **In today's newsletter:** 💵 **Funding.** Australia’s state funding for research lagged behind peer nations **⚕️ Health Skills.** US topped healthcare spending per capita 🤖 **Artificial Intelligence.** Latest AI models still discovering tougher benchmarks Thanks for reading! **Not a subscriber yet?** [Subscribe Now](https://newsletters.qs.com/#/portal/) --- ## 💵 Australia’s state funding for research lagged behind peer nations [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f1/d4/f1d411df-6f49-4c75-a302-f8c9e9f59495/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-9c29ff6e-d103-4478-9f34-3cbfb9e5dfe5.png)](https://index.holoniq.com/charts/HCHIV6WSC9W5G736R59V/?ref=newsletters.qs.com) Australia’s higher education sector has been strained by low government research funding, trailing peers like Singapore and the US, after years of dependence on international student fees. [Recent caps on international enrolments](https://thepienews.com/australia-raises-international-student-enrolment-cap-295k/?ref=newsletters.qs.com) exposed funding fragility, forcing restructuring across universities and eventually raising the imposed enrolment cap. The Australian government is boosting [state-led research funding](https://www.education.gov.au/newsroom/articles/13-million-awarded-support-innovative-research-projects?ref=newsletters.qs.com), mission-based grants, and industry-linked R&D to rebalance university finances and reduce overdependence on overseas tuition fee income. ## **⚕️** US topped healthcare spending per capita [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f1/d4/f1d411df-6f49-4c75-a302-f8c9e9f59495/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-3cdeb192-0706-49f4-9ca6-8fa104a30c60.png)](https://index.holoniq.com/charts/HCH3REOOQFNPH4AHXK5R/?ref=newsletters.qs.com) In 2024, the US spent nearly $15K per capita on healthcare, far above peers, [driven largely by higher prices](https://www.pgpf.org/article/how-does-the-us-healthcare-system-compare-to-other-countries/?utm%5Fterm=cost%20of%20us%20healthcare%20vs%20other%20countries&utm%5Fcampaign=Healthcare+General&utm%5Fsource=adwords&utm%5Fmedium=ppc&hsa%5Facc=1523796716&hsa%5Fcam=15585669000&hsa%5Fgrp=131358281459&hsa%5Fad=570089444339&hsa%5Fsrc=g&hsa%5Ftgt=kwd-336288132213&hsa%5Fkw=cost%20of%20us%20healthcare%20vs%20other%20countries&hsa%5Fmt=b&hsa%5Fnet=adwords&hsa%5Fver=3&gad%5Fsource=1&gad%5Fcampaignid=15585669000&gbraid=0AAAAADhh2Dqd-6Mo2TKrWvzArdcQcQH0N&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1JLLBhCDARIsAAVfy7jUx0mhALVeC7pWEaZHoJlT08qTXiVMI1nnQA8t3vC1eHZPdKy2dw4aAg2pEALw%5FwcB) for hospitals, procedures, and administration, [rather than greater service use](https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/how-do-healthcare-prices-and-use-in-the-u-s-compare-to-other-countries/?ref=newsletters.qs.com). Despite this spending, access gaps persist, with affordability and uneven coverage. The Big Beautiful Bill intensifies scrutiny on cost controls and subsidies, and [reshaping funding flows](https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/medicaid-cuts-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-leave-3-10-young-adults-vulnerable-losing?ref=newsletters.qs.com) towards programmes such as Medicaid. However, price-setting and provider market power are unresolved drivers of high costs. ## 🤖 Latest AI models still discovering tougher benchmarks [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f1/d4/f1d411df-6f49-4c75-a302-f8c9e9f59495/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-acb34584-2531-41af-8728-f2ba15c16b0a.png)](https://index.holoniq.com/charts/HCHUBXLRPEEO6GJNGMVL/?ref=newsletters.qs.com) [Humanity’s Last Exam (HLE)](https://agi.safe.ai/?ref=newsletters.qs.com) is a frontier benchmark designed to test expert-level reasoning, combining multi-step logic, cross-domain knowledge, math, coding, and adversarial questions resistant to memorisation. Top scores remain low, with Gemini 3 Pro at 37% and GPT-5.2 at 35%, signalling genuine difficulty compared to [regular benchmarks](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01087-4?ref=newsletters.qs.com). As models saturate legacy benchmarks, HLE shows LLMs now excel at pattern tasks but still struggle with deep reasoning, uncertainty, and synthesis, highlighting the gap between competence and true intelligence. --- **Like getting this newsletter?* Request a demo for unlimited access to over one million charts* [Request a Demo](https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/2C1%5FV5ni4SEyLILjrqcyQnQfigrs?%5F%5Fhstc=246933147.4a0f9c817dbdb1552dab36c635584622.1688407869224.1749831404162.1749845959660.481&%5F%5Fhssc=246933147.4.1749845959660&%5F%5Fhsfp=4268195782&ref=newsletters.qs.com) --- **Thank you for reading. Have a great week ahead!** Have some feedback or want to sponsor this newsletter? Let us know at [qs.com.](https://www.qs.com/contact-us/?ref=newsletters.qs.com)