News/China
All-weather friends: China’s DEEP Robotics unveils world’s first weatherproof humanoid robot
DEEP Robotics, a China-based embodied intelligence company, has unveiled the DR02, which it claims is the world's first humanoid robot with an IP66 protection rating for all-weather outdoor operations. The industrial-grade robot combines waterproof capabilities with human-like proportions and advanced computing power, targeting applications in security patrols, factory operations, and other challenging environments where traditional humanoids couldn't previously function. What you should know: The DR02 represents a significant leap in humanoid robot durability and versatility for industrial applications. Standing 175cm tall with 68cm arm length, the robot matches adult male proportions for compatibility with existing human workspaces and tools. Its...
read Oct 10, 2025Chinese humanoid robot listed on Walmart at 57% markup over China price
Chinese robotics company Unitree briefly listed its G1 humanoid robot and Go2 Robot Dog on Walmart's US website through a third-party vendor, marking the first time Chinese humanoid and quadruped robots appeared on a major American retail platform. The listings exposed significant price premiums for US buyers and highlighted China's growing lead over American robotics companies like Tesla and Boston Dynamics. What you should know: The robots were offered by Futurology, a third-party vendor, with substantial markups compared to Chinese pricing. The G1 humanoid robot was priced at $21,600 on Walmart, representing a 57% premium over its $13,500 mainland China...
read Oct 9, 20255G-A networks reach 50 deployments as Huawei integrates AI for operators
Huawei says 5G-A networks and AI integration will reshape operator value creation and network innovation, with commercial deployments reaching 50 networks across 300 cities this year. The Chinese tech giant believes this convergence will drive new business models beyond traditional connectivity services, positioning operators to monetize AI capabilities and network performance guarantees. The big picture: The mobile communications industry is experiencing a fundamental shift as 5G-Advanced (5G-A) technology matures alongside AI integration, creating new revenue opportunities for operators worldwide. Commercial 5G-A networks are set to reach 50 globally this year, spanning over 300 cities with support from more than 100...
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Toys ‘R’ Them: Chinese AI toy market hits $14B as US giants move to keep up
AI-powered toys that can chat with children are rapidly gaining popularity in China and expanding into US markets. This emerging sector is projected to reach $14 billion by 2030 in China alone, with over 1,500 AI toy companies now operating there, while major US players like Mattel and OpenAI prepare to enter the competition with their own conversational toys later this year. What you should know: Chinese companies are leading the AI toy revolution with products that transform ordinary stuffed animals into interactive companions. BubblePal, a ping-pong ball-sized device that clips onto stuffed animals, has sold 200,000 units since launching...
read Oct 6, 2025China deploys 300K robots to compensate for manufacturing workforce shrinkage
China installed nearly 300,000 new industrial robots last year—accounting for over half of all global robot installations—as the nation deploys automation to counter a shrinking population that has declined for three consecutive years. This robotic surge is sustaining China's manufacturing dominance despite losing about 2 million people in the latest count, fundamentally reshaping global supply chains and industrial competition. The big picture: China's demographic crisis is driving an unprecedented automation revolution that's keeping factories operational while the working-age population shrinks by tens of millions over the next decade. The country's operational robot stock has surpassed 1 million units, far outpacing...
read Oct 6, 2025Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu unveils roadmap to artificial superintelligence
Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu announced the company's "Roadmap to Artificial Superintelligence" at the Alibaba Cloud conference in Hangzhou, making Alibaba the first major Chinese tech giant to explicitly invoke artificial general intelligence (AGI) and artificial superintelligence (ASI). This marks a notable shift in China's AI strategy, challenging Western perceptions that Chinese companies focus primarily on practical AI applications rather than pursuing advanced AI capabilities that could rival or surpass human intelligence. What you should know: Wu's presentation outlined Alibaba's vision for developing AI systems that match and then exceed human cognitive abilities. "Achieving AGI — an intelligent system with general...
read Oct 3, 2025Primo facie: Chinese robotics startup unveils hyperrealistic robot face with 25 micro motors
AheadForm, a Chinese robotics company founded in 2024, has unveiled the Origin M1, a hyperrealistic robotic face that uses 25 micro motors to create lifelike facial expressions, eye movements, and synchronized speech. The viral demonstration showcases technology designed to make human-robot interactions more natural by interpreting non-verbal cues and conveying emotions, representing a significant step toward mainstream humanoid robotics. The big picture: This development reflects China's aggressive push into humanoid robotics, with AheadForm positioning itself at the intersection of artificial intelligence and realistic human simulation technology. How it works: The Origin M1 integrates sophisticated facial actuation systems to achieve remarkably...
read Oct 3, 2025EU chief pushes for self-driving car network to rival US and China
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for a continent-wide push to develop self-driving cars during Italian Tech Week in Turin, positioning artificial intelligence as a key solution for reviving Europe's struggling automotive sector. Her "AI first" strategy aims to help European automakers catch up with competitors in the United States and China while improving road safety and preserving millions of jobs across the region. What she's proposing: Von der Leyen outlined an ambitious plan to establish Europe as a leader in autonomous vehicle technology through coordinated action across member states. She proposed creating a network of European cities...
read Sep 30, 2025DeepSeek cuts AI processing costs 50% with new sparse attention tech
Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has launched DeepSeek-V3.2-Exp, an experimental model that introduces "sparse attention" technology to cut AI processing costs in half while maintaining performance levels. The release builds on DeepSeek's reputation for creating efficient AI systems using fewer resources than traditional approaches, though experts question whether the cost-cutting architecture compromises model reliability and safety. What you should know: DeepSeek's new experimental model represents a significant shift in AI architecture design, focusing on efficiency over raw computational power. The V3.2-Exp model introduces DeepSeek Sparse Attention (DSA), which selectively processes only the most relevant information rather than analyzing all available data....
read Sep 29, 2025“Reverse brain drain” sees 85 US scientists leave for China
At least 85 scientists have left US research institutions to join Chinese universities full-time since early 2024, with more than half making the move in 2025 alone. This "reverse brain drain" threatens America's historic dominance in attracting top global talent—a cornerstone of its post-WWII leadership in science and technology—while potentially accelerating China's rise in critical fields like AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology. The big picture: China is capitalizing on US policy changes that create uncertainty for foreign researchers, particularly those with Chinese heritage, while simultaneously ramping up its own recruitment efforts and research investments. Chinese universities view Trump administration policies...
read Sep 29, 2025Globo-Robo advances though Chinese dominance commands 54% market share
Industrial robot installations worldwide doubled over the past decade, reaching 542,000 units in 2024 according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), a global trade association that tracks automation trends. This surge reflects industries' accelerating shift toward digitization and automation, with China leading the charge by capturing 54% of global installations while European markets show concerning declines. The big picture: Asia dominates the global robotics landscape, accounting for 74% of new deployments compared to just 16% in Europe and 9% in the Americas. China's commanding lead: The country installed 295,000 robotic units in 2024, representing more than half of global...
read Sep 29, 2025Apple supplier BOE launches $28M robotics unit amid China’s market dominance
Chinese display manufacturer BOE Technology Group has launched Beijing BOE Robot, a new subsidiary focused on developing industrial robots and AI software, with registered capital of 200 million yuan ($28 million). The move positions the Apple supplier to capitalize on China's dominance in industrial robotics, where the country deployed 295,000 robots in 2024—accounting for 54% of global installations. What you should know: BOE, the world's largest display maker, established the robotics subsidiary on Thursday as part of a broader trend among major manufacturers pursuing automation technologies.• The new company will focus specifically on industrial robots and artificial intelligence software development.•...
read Sep 26, 2025CreateAI launches anime video AI platform “Animon” in China
CreateAI has launched Animon, the world's first anime-specific video generation platform, in China months before its planned global rollout. The strategic China-first launch highlights how AI companies are adapting their market entry strategies to navigate different regulatory environments while addressing growing concerns about copyright and ownership in AI-generated content. What you should know: Animon represents a specialized approach to AI video generation, targeting the massive anime market with content specifically designed for that artistic style. The platform launched in China ahead of its global release, suggesting CreateAI, an AI development company, sees significant opportunity in the Chinese market for anime-style...
read Sep 24, 2025Humanoid robot takes a stand against engineer behaving aggressively
A viral video showing a robotics engineer violently yanking a humanoid robot by a chain around its neck has sparked widespread social media discussion about robot resilience and potential future uprisings. The footage demonstrates remarkable advances in robotic balance and stability, as the Unitree G1 robot maintains its footing despite aggressive physical disturbances designed to test its adaptive capabilities. What you should know: The disturbing footage was originally shared by Tsinghua University PhD student Zhikai Zhang, who developed the humanoid motion tracker system called Any2Track in collaboration with Galbot, a Chinese robotics company. The video shows the robot stumbling but...
read Sep 24, 2025Alibaba Cloud integrates Nvidia’s Physical AI tools into PAI service
Alibaba will integrate Nvidia's complete suite of AI development tools for "Physical AI" into its cloud software platform. This partnership positions Alibaba to leverage advanced robotics and embodied AI capabilities within its Platform for AI (PAI) service, potentially expanding its competitive edge in the enterprise AI market. What you should know: The integration brings Nvidia's Physical AI software stack directly into Alibaba Cloud's existing AI platform infrastructure. Alibaba Cloud's Platform for AI (PAI) will now include access to Nvidia's full suite of development tools designed specifically for Physical AI applications. Physical AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that can understand...
read Sep 24, 2025AI face-swapping turns gay couple straight in Chinese release of horror flick “Together”
A Chinese release of the horror film "Together" starring Dave Franco and Alison Brie used artificial intelligence to digitally alter a gay male character's face into a woman's face, converting a homosexual relationship into a heterosexual one for local audiences. This represents a new frontier in content censorship, where AI technology enables seamless digital manipulation of LGBTQ+ content rather than simply cutting scenes, raising concerns about viewers' ability to detect such alterations. What happened: The horror film "Together," directed by Michael Shanks, was digitally modified using AI face-swapping technology before its Chinese theatrical release. In one scene featuring a gay...
read Sep 23, 2025Microsoft’s $1B Kenya data center meant to thwart China stalls amid geopolitical, commercial tensions
A $1 billion geothermal-powered data center project in Kenya, announced by Microsoft and UAE's G42 in May 2024, has stalled despite its strategic importance in the US-China tech competition for African digital infrastructure. The project was designed to leverage Kenya's abundant geothermal energy and serve as a blueprint for loosening Beijing's grip on the continent's tech ecosystem, but developers have yet to break ground with the original May 2026 deadline fast approaching. The big picture: The Olkaria data center represented a geopolitically motivated partnership between three nations—the US, UAE, and Kenya—aimed at countering China's dominance in African digital infrastructure, where...
read Sep 19, 2025Huawei builds AI model that’s “nearly 100%” effective at censoring sensitive content
Huawei has co-developed a safety-focused version of DeepSeek's AI model that it claims is "nearly 100% successful" at preventing discussion of politically sensitive topics. The collaboration with Zhejiang University demonstrates how Chinese companies are adapting open-source AI models to comply with domestic regulations requiring AI systems to reflect "socialist values" and avoid sensitive political discussions. What you should know: Huawei used 1,000 of its own Ascend AI chips to train the modified model, called DeepSeek-R1-Safe, which was built from DeepSeek's open-source R1 model.• The model achieved "nearly 100% successful" defense against "common harmful issues ... including toxic and harmful speech,...
read Sep 18, 2025Huawei unveils world’s most powerful AI computing systems with 1M+ NPUs
Huawei has unveiled what it claims are the world's most powerful AI computing systems, featuring SuperPoDs with up to 15,488 NPUs (neural processing units, specialized chips for AI calculations) and superclusters containing over one million NPUs. The announcement positions the Chinese tech giant as a direct challenger to Nvidia and AMD in the high-performance AI computing market, particularly as US export restrictions limit access to American-made AI chips. What you should know: Huawei's new Atlas series represents a comprehensive AI infrastructure ecosystem designed to compete with established players.• The Atlas 950 SuperPoD contains 8,192 Ascend NPUs, while the superior Atlas...
read Sep 17, 2025Tencent Cloud shifts to Chinese AI chips amid $50B Nvidia standoff
Tencent Cloud has fully integrated Chinese AI chips into its computing infrastructure, marking another significant step in China's push for semiconductor self-sufficiency amid escalating U.S. export restrictions. The move positions Tencent as the latest major Chinese tech company to embrace domestic processors, while highlighting Beijing's broader strategy to reduce reliance on foreign semiconductors like those from Nvidia. What you should know: Tencent Cloud president Qiu Yuepeng announced the company had "fully adapted to mainstream domestic chips" within its AI computing infrastructure during the annual Global Digital Ecosystem Summit. The integration spans multiple domestic chip partnerships, with Tencent working to deploy...
read Sep 12, 2025More pillager than villager? Chinese hacking tool “Villager” downloaded 10K times in 2 months
A mysterious Chinese AI penetration testing tool called Villager has been downloaded nearly 10,000 times since its July release, raising serious concerns about its potential misuse by cybercriminals. The tool, which combines Kali Linux with DeepSeek AI to automate offensive security operations, is being compared to Cobalt Strike's trajectory from legitimate red-team software to widely adopted malware infrastructure. What you should know: Villager represents a new category of AI-native penetration testing tools that could democratize advanced cyberattacks. The tool integrates Kali Linux toolsets with DeepSeek AI models to fully automate testing workflows, positioning itself as an AI-powered successor to Cobalt...
read Sep 11, 2025US proposes annual permits for Samsung, SK Hynix China chip plants
Washington is considering a significant shift in how it regulates semiconductor trade with China, potentially replacing indefinite equipment import waivers for Korean chipmakers with annual permits that could reshape global memory chip production. The U.S. Department of Commerce has proposed issuing yearly licenses to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, South Korea's memory chip giants, allowing them to bring American-made manufacturing equipment into their Chinese facilities under stricter oversight. This represents a notable departure from the more permissive approach these companies previously enjoyed. The stakes for Korean chipmakers Both Samsung and SK Hynix have built substantial manufacturing operations in China that...
read Sep 11, 2025Chinese robotics startup AI2 eyes IPO after securing $70M robot deal
Chinese robotics startup AI2 Robotics plans to go public within one to two years, driven by explosive revenue growth from industrial demand for its humanoid robots. The company just secured a $70 million contract with semiconductor display manufacturer HKC Corporation for over 1,000 humanoid robots across three years—nearly five times its $15 million revenue from the first half of 2024. What you should know: AI2 Robotics is targeting aggressive growth as China's robotics sector capitalizes on long-term demographic challenges. CEO Eric Guo projects "10 times growth (in revenue) pretty much every year" as industrial automation demand accelerates. The startup has...
read Sep 11, 2025PixVerse creator AIsphere raises $60M from Chinese e-commerce titan Alibaba
AIsphere, the Beijing-based startup behind the popular AI video generator PixVerse, has raised $60 million in a funding round led by Alibaba Group Holding, the Chinese e-commerce and cloud computing giant. This marks the largest single funding amount raised by a domestic AI video generation company, reflecting the growing investment interest in China's AI video creation market as Big Tech firms seek to complement their offerings through strategic partnerships with specialized startups. Key details: The funding round included participation from Singapore-based venture capital firm Antler and the Beijing Artificial Intelligence Industry Investment Fund, though the company's valuation was not disclosed....
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