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Unitree Robotics is preparing for a listing on Shanghai’s Nasdaq-style Star Market. Photo: Handout

Big Tech

China’s Unitree teases platform allowing users to control robots via smartphones

Hangzhou robotics unicorn’s platform is designed to bring embodied intelligence into everyday life.

Why Japan’s robotic pioneers are ceding the humanoid stage to China and the US

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China’s EV battery giants wade into shipbuilding to bolster Beijing’s dominance

Tech Trends

Sea change: China narrows AI gap with US 3 years after ChatGPT shock

The turning point came when DeepSeek released its V3 and R1 models, which were on par with OpenAI’s GPT and Meta’s Llama models at the time.

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Illustration by Lau Ka-kuen
Illustration by Lau Ka-kuen

Big Tech

Meta sees role reversal as it adopts Alibaba’s Qwen to train AI models

Throughout 2023 and 2024, Chinese firms keen to catch up with the US used Meta’s Llama to help them build their own models.

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China Business

Chinese robotaxi firm Pony.ai bets on ‘asset-light’ strategy for growth

Firm sees working with partners as the best way to expand service in the mainland and beyond.

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Big Tech

Alipay and Rokid open up ‘look-and-pay’ smart glasses function to developers

The function has been made available to participants in the Rokid Spatial Joy 25 Global AR and AI Developer Competition.

Alipay and AI glasses maker Rokid have teamed up to debut a smart glasses AI pay solution on the Rokid Lingzhu AI development platform. Photo: Sina
Alipay and AI glasses maker Rokid have teamed up to debut a smart glasses AI pay solution on the Rokid Lingzhu AI development platform. Photo: Sina

Big Tech

Huawei bolsters AI ambitions with foundation model unit, recruits global talent

In a recruitment ad posted in October, the Shenzhen-based firm said it was building a world-class AI team, wooing global talent.

Banking & Finance

Hong Kong needs to attract global champions to broaden fundraising base: FSDC

Think tank urges the expansion of connect schemes to cover a wider range of asset classes and the promotion of digital asset trading.

China Business

‘China’s little Nvidia’ warns of overheating risks after 723% share surge

Moore Threads shares drop 13 per cent on Friday after the GPU maker cautions investors to ‘make decisions prudently and invest rationally’.

“The company’s shares have had a big swing in recent days,” says Moore Threads. Photo: Getty Images

Banking & Finance

China’s generative AI tiger MiniMax pursues Hong Kong IPO to expand global reach

Hong Kong equity market offers platform for mainland Chinese AI firms seeking international investors amid intensifying domestic competition.

MiniMax plans to beef up its research and development. Photo: Handout
MiniMax plans to beef up its research and development. Photo: Handout

Blockchain

Coins in sand: how the UAE draws in the global crypto community

At Abu Dhabi Finance Week, insiders give credit to the UAE’s regulatory infrastructure and institutional adoption of digital assets.

Big Tech

China’s Huawei ramps up foldable handset battle with global launch of Mate X7

Huawei held nearly 70 per cent of China’s foldable smartphone market in the first three quarters, according to research firm IDC.

Tech Trends

China’s Xreal to power Google’s Android AI glasses as smart eyewear demand grows

Project Aura, which features dual-chip design and optical see-through lenses, is a fresh example of China’s expanding R&D capabilities.

Aura projects applications directly into the user’s sightline, enabling interaction via hand gestures and granting access to Google Play apps. Photo: Handout

Big Tech

AI race: Meta reportedly uses Alibaba’s Qwen for its ‘Avocado’ model

Reported move to reinvigorate Meta’s faltering AI effort with new ‘Avocado’ model is another likely win for Chinese AI.

The logo of Meta Platforms is seen outside its headquarters in Menlo Park, California. Photo: TNS
The logo of Meta Platforms is seen outside its headquarters in Menlo Park, California. Photo: TNS

Banking & Finance

Swift tests blockchain with Ant International and HSBC in cross-border trial

By using the ISO 20022 messaging standard, the partners say they can make tokenised deposits interoperable with legacy systems.

Tech

Apple takes China’s smartphone battle house to house with 3-hour iPhone delivery

Apple is ramping up the fight for the Chinese market as rivals Huawei and Xiaomi pile on the pressure.

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Tech War

How Nexperia saga exposes Europe’s waning influence in US-China chip war

The dispute around the Dutch chipmaker shows the erosion of Europe’s geopolitical neutrality in the face of escalating US-China rivalry.

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Nexperia is caught in a geopolitical tussle between the Netherlands and China. Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Nexperia is caught in a geopolitical tussle between the Netherlands and China. Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Tech War

China’s lesson for the US: it takes more than chips to win the AI race

The AI war is increasingly waged among ‘hyperscalers’ – companies with full-stack capabilities across software, hardware and applications.

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Tech War

How Huawei and DeepSeek are tending the garden of China’s AI aspirations

Amid growing AI rivalry with the US, the two companies are leading China’s drive to shake off the nation’s dependence on Nvidia processors.

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Big Tech

Immediate gratification: instant commerce transforms China’s retail market

Instant commerce has developed over a short period of time, as providers expanded their on-demand delivery coverage beyond food.

Illustration: Henry Wong
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China Future Tech
HIGHLIGHTS FROM
China Future Tech

Big Tech

China’s DeepSeek challenges Google DeepMind with new AI model

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A shop advertising DeepSeek in Hong Kong. Photo: Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Tech Trends

Why Japan’s robotic pioneers are ceding the humanoid stage to China and the US

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Kawasaki’s humanoid robot Kaleido takes out the rubbish as crowds watch during the IREX show in Tokyo. Photo: Wency Chen

Tech Trends

Sea change: China narrows AI gap with US 3 years after ChatGPT shock

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Illustration by Lau Ka-kuen

Big Tech

Meta sees role reversal as it adopts Alibaba’s Qwen to train AI models

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The Qwen logo is seen in this illustration taken, January 29, 2025. Photo: Reuters

Global Economy

China-free supply chain? US firm has a rare earth strategy – but can it work?

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Rare earths have become one of Beijing’s biggest levers in its trade war with the US, prompting a scramble to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on China. Photo: Getty Images
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OPINION
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MULTIMEDIA
Video

Australia’s under-16 social media ban due to take effect

dsfewd
02:58
Video

Chinese firm unveils new lightweight AI glasses

New AI glasses
01:56
Video

China’s ‘Goddess of Wealth’ jailed for over 11 years by UK court

China cryptoqueen jailed for more than 11 years by UK court over US$6.4 billion bitcoin fraud
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Third consecutive championship for South Korea’s T1

South Korea’s T1 clinches third consecutive League of Legends World Championship esports win
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