News/China
Xiaomi 15 global version spotted on Geekbench with new specs
The Xiaomi 15 series continues to make waves in the smartphone market, with new details emerging about both the global version of the base model and the Ultra variant's camera capabilities. Latest developments: The global version of the Xiaomi 15 has appeared on Geekbench's AI test listing, while new information about the Xiaomi 15 Ultra's camera system has surfaced. The global Xiaomi 15, identified by model number 24129PN74G, achieved maximum scores of 2,519 in single-precision and 2,522 in half-precision tests The device's quantized score reached 4,254, though notably these tests were conducted on CPU rather than NPU or GPU Key...
read Nov 12, 2024Alibaba just released a free, open-source AI coding assistant and it’s very good
The release of Alibaba Cloud's Qwen2.5-Coder represents a significant advancement in AI-powered coding assistance, offering enterprise-grade capabilities through an open-source model that could reshape software development practices globally. Key innovation details: Qwen2.5-Coder has quickly become the second most popular demo on Hugging Face Spaces, with performance metrics rivaling GPT-4. The system includes six model variants ranging from 0.5 billion to 32 billion parameters, accommodating different computational resources The flagship model achieved impressive scores: 92.7% on HumanEval, 90.2% on MBPP, and 31.4% accuracy on LiveCodeBench Technical improvements stem from refined data processing, synthetic data generation, and balanced training datasets Technical capabilities:...
read Nov 6, 2024Chinese mobility company XPeng showcases autonomous driving tech in latest event
AI-driven innovation takes center stage at XPeng's Tech Day: Chinese mobility company XPeng showcased a range of cutting-edge technologies at its annual event, now rebranded as "AI Day" to reflect the central role of artificial intelligence in its future plans. XPeng unveiled the Turing AI Intelligent Driving System, powered by its proprietary Turing AI chip, designed for vehicles, robots, and flying cars. The Turing chip features a 40-core processor and supports models with up to 30 billion parameters, delivering the power of three high-performance chips in one. XPeng's new Canghai Platform, built on the Turing AI system, aims to enable...
read Nov 6, 2024Samsung unveils AI assistant Bixby, but you can’t use it unless you’re in China
Samsung unveils AI-powered 'Next-generation Bixby' in China: The tech giant has quietly launched an updated version of its voice assistant, Bixby, with advanced AI capabilities for select Galaxy devices in the Chinese market. The new Bixby was introduced alongside the release of the Galaxy W25 and W25 Flip, region-exclusive variants of Samsung's foldable devices in China. This update marks a significant advancement for Bixby, which was notably absent from Samsung's Galaxy AI suite of features launched earlier this year. Key features of 'Next-generation Bixby': Samsung has highlighted four main enhancements to its AI assistant, focusing on multimodal interactions and improved...
read Nov 1, 2024Chinese researchers develop military AI with Meta’s Llama model
Chinese military's AI advancement: China has reportedly developed a military intelligence tool called ChatBIT using Meta's Llama 13B AI model, raising concerns about the potential misuse of open-source AI technology for military purposes. Two Chinese institutions with military ties were involved in creating ChatBIT, which is designed to gather and process military intelligence data. The AI tool was trained on a relatively small dataset of approximately 100,000 military records, suggesting it may be in early stages of development or intended for specific, focused tasks. ChatBIT's potential future applications include military training and analysis, though its current capabilities and deployment status...
read Oct 28, 2024US Treasury blocks investors from advancing China’s advanced AI and military tech
New U.S. investment restrictions target China's tech sector: The U.S. Treasury Department has unveiled a new rule aimed at limiting American investments in key Chinese technology sectors, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing tech rivalry between the two global powers. The scope of the rule: The regulation focuses on restricting U.S. investments in artificial intelligence, computer chips, and quantum computing in China, Hong Kong, and Macau. The rule is set to take effect on January 2, 2024, following an executive order issued by President Biden in August 2023. It targets these specific technologies due to their potential to provide...
read Oct 28, 2024US may pressure EU to tighten China export controls, ASML warns
US-China tech tensions intensify: The CEO of Dutch semiconductor equipment manufacturer ASML anticipates increased US pressure on the EU to further restrict technology exports to China, highlighting escalating geopolitical tensions in the global AI race. ASML CEO Cristophe Fouquet expressed his expectation of continued US pressure on allies for more restrictions during the Bloomberg Tech Summit. The company, a leading producer of lithography machines crucial for advanced chip manufacturing, has already faced export restrictions to China at Washington's insistence. The Netherlands banned ASML from selling its most advanced machines to China last year, with the US subsequently extending the ban...
read Oct 26, 2024Realme confirms AI features in upcoming smartphone release
Realme GT 7 Pro: Mars-inspired design and AI features unveiled: Realme is set to launch its latest flagship smartphone, the GT 7 Pro, on November 4th in China, with an Indian release to follow shortly after. Design inspired by the Red Planet: The Realme GT 7 Pro's back panel showcases a unique Mars-inspired design, dubbed the 'Mars Exploration Edition'. The phone features a gradient-flowing design reminiscent of the Martian landscape, with the teaser image displaying an orange color option. Realme employs a multi-layered hot-forging AG process to achieve the Mars-like surface texture, allowing for precise temperature control and pressure application....
read Oct 23, 2024China hawks clash over AI policy, imperiling US AI dominance
AI export debate intensifies within US administration: The Biden administration is grappling with a complex decision regarding the export of artificial intelligence technology, particularly to countries in the Middle East, as competing factions within the government advocate for different approaches. The Commerce Department is considering restrictions on AI-focused semiconductor chip exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other nations, reflecting ongoing concerns about technology transfer. A broader review of Microsoft's proposed $1.5 billion deal with G42, a UAE-based data center company, is underway, highlighting the administration's ambivalence towards AI technology exports. The outcome of this internal debate is expected...
read Oct 18, 2024China’s Pony.ai files for US IPO to advance autonomous driving
Chinese autonomous driving company seeks US public listing: Pony.ai, a prominent Chinese autonomous driving and robotaxi developer, has filed for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), aiming to list on the Nasdaq stock exchange. Founded in 2016, Pony.ai specializes in fully autonomous mobility and has gained recognition through partnerships with major automotive manufacturers like Toyota, GAC Group, and NIO Capital. The company has pioneered commercial autonomous taxi services in Chinese cities such as Beijing and Guangzhou, and has expanded operations to US cities like Tucson, Arizona. Pony.ai's decision to go public follows a...
read Oct 14, 2024XPeng unveils AI-powered EV in Paris, announces European pricing
XPeng unveils AI-driven P7+ EV in Paris: Chinese automaker XPeng Motors showcased its new P7+ electric vehicle at the Paris Motor Show, emphasizing its AI capabilities and commitment to the European market. Key features of the XPeng P7+: The P7+ is billed as the "world's first AI car," featuring an AI-centric design that builds upon XPeng's flagship P7 sedan The vehicle utilizes a pure vision camera system called "AI Hawkeye Visual Solution," eschewing LiDAR technology in favor of a camera-based approach similar to Tesla's XPeng claims the new system delivers ADAS performance comparable to previous LiDAR-based systems while being more...
read Oct 10, 2024XPeng’s new P7+ sedan aims to be first AI-powered car
XPeng unveils P7+ sedan: AI-powered and LiDAR-free: Chinese automaker XPeng has officially introduced its new P7+ electric sedan, touting it as the "world's first AI car" with advanced vision-based technology replacing traditional LiDAR sensors. Key features and specifications: The P7+ measures 5,056 mm in length, 1,937 mm in width, and 1,512 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,000 mm Two LFP battery options are available: 60.7 kWh and 76.3 kWh, offering CLTC ranges of 620 km (385 miles) and 710 km (441 miles), respectively The sedan boasts a drag coefficient of 0.206 and consumes as little as 11.6 kWh...
read Oct 9, 2024Is China pulling ahead in the AI video market?
AI video synthesis: A new frontier in generative technology: The rapid advancement of AI video generation models in 2024 marks a significant leap forward in the field of artificial intelligence, with China emerging as a strong competitor to Western tech giants. Key players and developments: OpenAI's Sora made waves in February 2024, setting a new benchmark for AI video synthesis. Two major Chinese models have since emerged: Kuaishou Technology's Kling and Minimax's video-01. These Chinese models have already powered numerous viral AI-generated video projects, accelerating meme culture in novel ways. Kling: A powerful contender: Emerged in June 2024, capable of...
read Oct 7, 2024ByteDance’s new web scraper is hoovering up data at an unprecedented rate
ByteDance's aggressive web scraping: ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has launched a new web crawler called Bytespider that is rapidly collecting online data at an unprecedented rate. Bytespider, introduced in April, has quickly become one of the most aggressive web scrapers on the internet, surpassing the data collection efforts of major tech companies like Google, Meta, Amazon, OpenAI, and Anthropic. According to research by Kasada, a bot management company, Bytespider is scraping data at approximately 25 times the rate of GPTbot, which collects data for OpenAI's ChatGPT platform. The bot's scraping activity has shown significant spikes over the past...
read Oct 3, 2024New analysis reveals AI’s biggest innovators: Amazon, Wells Fargo… and Walmart?
AI leadership evolving beyond traditional tech giants: A new analysis by Georgetown University's Center for Security and Emerging Technology reveals surprising players in the AI race among S&P 500 companies, challenging conventional perceptions of industry leaders. IBM, Alphabet, and Microsoft predictably top the list for AI patents and workforce, but unexpected contenders like Walmart, Ford, and Wells Fargo are emerging as significant players. The study combined metrics including AI patents, hiring trends, and published research to create a comprehensive index of the top 30 AI leaders in the S&P 500. Amazon's underestimated AI prowess: Despite lacking a high-profile AI product...
read Oct 1, 2024Chinese AI giants are turning to the west to scale their businesses
The rise of Chinese AI on the global stage: Chinese AI companies are rapidly expanding internationally, marking a new era of technological influence and global competitiveness for China. As of 2024, out of 1,500 active AI companies worldwide, 751 are based in China, with 103 already expanding internationally. This expansion is driven by both China's growing strength in tech innovation and the need to find new markets as domestic competition intensifies. Key players and strategies: Major Chinese tech giants and startups are adopting diverse approaches to international expansion, focusing on different regions and market segments. Tech giants like Huawei, Tencent,...
read Sep 28, 2024Inside China’s plan to make AI watermarks happen
China's ambitious AI watermarking initiative: China's Cyberspace Administration has drafted a new regulation aimed at clearly distinguishing between real and AI-generated content, marking a significant step in the global effort to manage the proliferation of artificial intelligence in media. The regulation, drafted on September 14, outlines a comprehensive approach to labeling AI-generated content, including explicit watermarks on images, notification labels on videos and virtual reality content, and morse code sounds for audio. Implicit labeling methods are also proposed, such as including "AIGC" (AI-Generated Content) mentions and encrypted information about content producers in metadata. The initiative goes beyond similar regulations, like...
read Sep 27, 2024China to require mandatory labeling of AI-generated content
China's ambitious AI content labeling initiative: The Chinese government has drafted a new regulation aimed at implementing mandatory labeling and tracking of AI-generated content, signaling a significant shift in the country's approach to artificial intelligence governance. The proposed regulation, drafted in March 2024, would require AI providers in China to add explicit labels and encrypted metadata to all AI-generated content. Social media companies operating in China would be obligated to scan for these watermarks and display appropriate labels on AI content shared on their platforms. The new rules would also mandate that social media platforms provide additional information to help...
read Sep 27, 2024Panda vs Eagle: existential risk and the need for US-China AI cooperation
A critical perspective on the US-China AI race: The recent resharing of Leopold Aschenbrenner's essay by Ivanka Trump has reignited discussions about artificial general intelligence (AGI) development and its geopolitical implications, particularly focusing on the potential race between the United States and China. The argument for an AI arms race: Aschenbrenner's essay suggests that AGI will be developed soon and advocates for the U.S. to accelerate its efforts to outpace China in this domain. The essay argues that AGI could be a game-changing technology, potentially offering a decisive military advantage comparable to nuclear weapons. Aschenbrenner frames the stakes in stark...
read Sep 24, 2024Alibaba’s AI Video Generator Will Join a Growing Market of Sora Competitors
Alibaba unveils AI video generator: The Chinese tech giant has introduced a new text-to-video model as part of its Tongyi Wanxiang portfolio, joining the rapidly expanding field of AI-generated video tools. Key features of Alibaba's AI video tool: Produces high-quality videos from text prompts in both Chinese and English Capable of generating videos from still images Utilizes advanced diffusion transformer (DiT) architecture Maintains video quality across various styles, including realistic live-action and animation Broader context of Alibaba's AI push: The video generator is part of a larger AI rollout, including over 100 new large language models (LLMs) Tongyi Wanxiang, Alibaba's...
read Sep 11, 2024A New Chinese Open-Source AI Is Giving Siri and Alexa a Run for Their Money
LLaMA-Omni, a new AI model developed by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is poised to revolutionize how we interact with digital assistants by enabling real-time speech interaction with large language models (LLMs). Breakthrough in voice AI technology: LLaMA-Omni processes spoken instructions and generates both text and speech responses simultaneously, with latency as low as 226 milliseconds. Built on Meta's open-source Llama 3.1 8B Instruct model, LLaMA-Omni supports high-quality speech interactions. The system's low latency rivals human conversation speed, making it a potential game-changer for voice-enabled AI applications. Researchers highlight the growing demand for voice-enabled AI across various sectors,...
read Sep 11, 2024Chinese Startup MiniMax is a Big Deal for the AI Video Generation Market
MiniMax, a Chinese AI startup backed by Alibaba and Tencent, has made waves in the artificial intelligence community with its text-to-video AI model, challenging established players and potentially reshaping the landscape of generative AI. Breakthrough in AI video generation: MiniMax's "video-01" tool has captured attention for its ability to create impressive short video clips from text descriptions, including realistic human movements. The tool gained widespread notice after filmmaker Dave Clark posted a video of a Star Wars lightsaber duel that garnered over 5 million views in 48 hours. MiniMax's CEO, Yan Junjie, claims their performance surpasses that of competitor Runway...
read Sep 10, 2024Chinese AI-Powered EV ‘XPeng’ is Experiencing Unprecedented Demand
XPeng Motors is experiencing unprecedented demand for its newly launched MONA M03 electric vehicle, prompting the company to ramp up production efforts and engage suppliers to meet customer expectations. Launch and pricing strategy: XPeng's MONA M03, the first model in its AI-centric MONA line, has far exceeded initial sales projections due to aggressive pricing decisions. The MONA M03 was initially promised to start below RMB 200,000 ($27,500) when announced in April. At launch in late August, XPeng surprised the market by offering pre-orders at a starting price of RMB 119,800 ($16,815), significantly lower than expected. This pricing strategy resulted in...
read Sep 5, 2024Honor Unveils AI-Powered Foldable Phone and Slim Tablet at IFA
Honor unveils cutting-edge devices at IFA: The Chinese tech company Honor has introduced a lineup of innovative products at the IFA trade show, including a foldable smartphone, a tablet, and a smartwatch, showcasing advancements in design and technology. Magic V3: A folding phone pushing boundaries: Honor's latest foldable smartphone, the Magic V3, boasts impressive specifications that challenge competitors in the market. At just 9.2mm thick when folded, the Magic V3 is slimmer than rival foldable devices, potentially offering a more pocket-friendly form factor. The phone features a 6.43-inch outer display and a spacious 7.92-inch inner screen, providing versatility for different...
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