News/China
China disables AI photo tools during gaokao exams to prevent cheating
China has temporarily disabled image-recognition features on major AI applications during its national college entrance exam period to prevent cheating. Popular AI tools from Alibaba, ByteDance, DeepSeek, Moonshot, and Tencent are blocking photo-based queries that could help students cheat on exam papers, demonstrating how governments can coordinate with tech companies to maintain academic integrity during high-stakes testing. What you should know: China's most popular AI applications have coordinated to prevent cheating during the gaokao exam period, which runs through June 10.• Tools like Alibaba's Qwen, ByteDance's Doubao, DeepSeek, Moonshot's Kimi, and Tencent's Yuanbao are frozen during exam hours.• The apps...
read Jun 5, 2025Chinese groups exploit ChatGPT for malicious acts, OpenAI warns
OpenAI reports growing Chinese exploitation of its AI systems for covert operations targeting geopolitical narratives. The company's latest threat intelligence reveals China-linked actors using ChatGPT to generate divisive content, support cyber operations, and manipulate social media discourse on topics relevant to Chinese interests. While these operations remain relatively small-scale and limited in reach, they demonstrate how state-aligned groups are weaponizing generative AI technologies for influence campaigns. The big picture: OpenAI has identified multiple instances of Chinese groups misusing its technology for covert information operations, detailed in a new report released Thursday. The San Francisco-based AI company has detected and banned...
read Jun 5, 2025AI trends reshape tech landscape in Mary Meeker’s latest report
Mary Meeker's latest analysis reveals AI's unprecedented growth and global impact, with ChatGPT reaching 800 million weekly users and Chinese models gaining significant market share. This comprehensive report highlights a technological revolution that's transforming industries at remarkable speed, with implications that extend far beyond Silicon Valley as global competition intensifies and open-source development flourishes. The big picture: Mary Meeker's 340-page "Trends – Artificial Intelligence" report reveals a technology revolution moving at an unprecedented pace and scale, with far-reaching global implications. ChatGPT reached 100 million users in just two months and by April 2025 had 800 million weekly users handling over...
read Jun 4, 2025AI vids criticizing Trump tariffs proliferate on Chinese social media
China's strategic use of AI-generated content reflects a new battlefront in US-China tensions, where digital propaganda leverages emerging technology to shape domestic opinion on trade issues. As President Trump implements new tariffs against China, state-backed digital content is spreading across Chinese social media platforms with narratives that mock US trade policy while bolstering confidence in China's economic resilience. This coordinated digital response demonstrates how artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly central to modern information warfare and public diplomacy. The big picture: Chinese social media platforms are flooded with AI-generated videos portraying President Trump as an impulsive tariff-wielder, with Beijing authorities allowing...
read Jun 2, 2025DeepSeek update challenges OpenAI and Google dominance
DeepSeek is emerging as a formidable challenger in the global AI landscape with its latest release demonstrating significant performance improvements while maintaining an open-source approach. The Chinese startup's new DeepSeek-R1-0528 model showcases remarkable gains in complex reasoning and coding capabilities, areas where even industry leaders struggle. What makes DeepSeek particularly noteworthy is its combination of competitive performance, open licensing, and cost-efficient development—a strategy that could reshape who controls and benefits from advanced AI technology. The big picture: DeepSeek's latest AI model, DeepSeek-R1-0528, is challenging Western AI giants like OpenAI and Google with significant performance improvements in reasoning, coding, and logic....
read May 27, 2025Chinese operators deploy AI-powered RAN at massive scale
Chinese telecom operators are making waves with the commercial deployment of AI-powered radio access network (RAN) automation at a scale unmatched by their Western counterparts. While global telecom companies continue to experiment with network intelligence, China's operators have successfully implemented Level 4 automation across their networks, demonstrating significant real-world benefits in energy efficiency and operational performance. This advancement represents a critical competitive advantage in the race to maximize 5G network capabilities through intelligent, closed-loop automation systems. The big picture: At MWC25, AI-powered network intelligence dominated discussions as vendors showcased how generative AI and machine learning can optimize telecom networks and...
read May 22, 2025House Republicans move to slash solar incentives amid AI energy crunch
The House Republican tax bill threatens to undermine America's solar energy boom at a pivotal moment for both climate goals and energy security. By targeting popular solar incentives like the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), the legislation would not only increase electricity costs for average Americans but potentially surrender technological leadership to China in critical areas like electric vehicles and AI. The bill's timing is particularly problematic as data centers supporting AI development drive unprecedented demand for electricity, while domestic energy independence faces growing economic and geopolitical importance. The big picture: House Republicans have passed a tax bill that would eliminate...
read May 22, 2025US-China AI race drives new containment strategies
The US-China AI race isn't about who develops advanced AI first, but rather preventing the opponent from ever reaching certain capabilities. This containment-focused approach requires verifiable agreements that one side has abandoned development efforts—an understudied area that demands urgent attention as both nations have mutual interest in preventing the other from developing certain AI capabilities that could threaten national security. The big picture: The competition between the US and China over AI development is better understood as a containment game rather than a race, requiring verification mechanisms to ensure neither side develops certain dangerous capabilities. Even if the US develops...
read May 21, 2025Baidu reports Q1 2025 earnings amid AI growth
Baidu's recent financial report reveals robust growth across its core businesses, particularly in the AI space. The Chinese tech giant has achieved significant expansion in its AI Cloud offerings while making strategic moves in autonomous transportation. These developments highlight Baidu's continued evolution from a search engine company to a comprehensive AI and technology leader with growing international ambitions. The big picture: Baidu reported solid financial growth in Q1 2025, with total revenues increasing 3% year over year to RMB 32.5 billion ($4.47 billion), driven primarily by its AI-focused businesses. Baidu Core revenue, which encompasses the company's AI initiatives, grew 7%...
read May 21, 2025China condemns US actions as chip conflict undermines diplomacy
The escalating US-China chip war is challenging a recent diplomatic thaw between the superpowers, as Beijing strongly condemns American restrictions on Huawei's advanced AI processors. This conflict over China's most sophisticated homegrown semiconductors highlights how deep technological rivalries persist beneath surface-level trade agreements, revealing President Xi Jinping's determination to achieve technological self-reliance while the US attempts to maintain its competitive edge in critical technologies. The big picture: Just days after agreeing to a temporary tariff truce, the US and China are locked in a new dispute over Washington's warnings against using Huawei's advanced Ascend AI chips. China's Commerce Ministry accused...
read May 20, 2025Nvidia CEO finds no signs of AI chip smuggling to China
Nvidia's reassurances about chip security come at a critical moment in the ongoing technological competition between the US and China. As export controls on advanced semiconductors tighten, concerns about potential diversion of high-performance AI chips have intensified across the industry. Jensen Huang's comments reflect the delicate balance tech companies must maintain between global business operations and compliance with increasingly complex trade regulations. The big picture: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang states there's no evidence of the company's advanced semiconductors being redirected to China despite ongoing trade restrictions. Key details: Huang cited physical characteristics of Nvidia's hardware that would make smuggling difficult,...
read May 20, 2025Apple’s Alibaba AI deal sparks concern in Washington
Apple's partnership with Alibaba to deploy AI features on iPhones in China has triggered significant concern among U.S. officials and lawmakers. This development adds to Apple's growing list of regulatory challenges while highlighting the geopolitical tensions surrounding AI technology development between the United States and China. The controversy comes at a critical time for Apple, which faces declining sales in China while needing a local AI partner to complement its global OpenAI collaboration for markets where ChatGPT cannot operate. The big picture: U.S. government officials and lawmakers have raised alarms about Apple's partnership with Chinese tech giant Alibaba to power...
read May 19, 2025Silicon Valley elite adaptively optimistic as global shakeups take place
Silicon Valley's tech elite maintain confidence in AI's transformative potential despite looming economic turbulence. This juxtaposition of optimism against a backdrop of trade tensions with China, potential immigration restrictions, and stock market volatility highlights the industry's characteristic resilience in the face of uncertainty, even as multibillion-dollar investments in AI continue to shape the valley's economic landscape. The big picture: Silicon Valley's tech industry is operating with a surprising level of optimism about AI's future despite significant economic and political headwinds. The Federal Reserve has criticized Trump administration tariff policies while Nvidia reported an expected $5 billion quarterly loss related to...
read May 19, 2025Chinese humanoid robots fold clothes, make sandwiches…and wholly reshape manufacturing
China is rapidly accelerating its humanoid robot development with unprecedented government support and ambitious goals to address pressing economic challenges. President Xi Jinping's recent inspection of AgiBot's robot facility in Shanghai highlights Beijing's strategic prioritization of this technology as a solution to issues including trade tensions with the U.S., population decline, and economic slowdown. This push represents China's bid to lead a new industrial revolution where humanoid robots could transform manufacturing and other sectors while potentially raising significant implications for global labor markets. The big picture: China is allocating massive resources to position itself as a leader in humanoid robotics...
read May 14, 2025US tightens restrictions on Huawei AI chip access
The Trump administration has escalated its tech confrontation with China by threatening criminal penalties for companies using Huawei's AI chips anywhere in the world, citing US export control violations. This hardened stance comes amid growing concerns that Huawei, despite years of American restrictions, has not only survived but thrived domestically and could soon challenge US chipmaker Nvidia globally. The timing coincides with President Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia alongside American tech executives, where several US chip manufacturers announced new AI partnerships. The big picture: The US is expanding its tech restrictions on Huawei beyond American borders to maintain its semiconductor...
read May 14, 2025Is America being too indiscriminate in its approach to AI diffusion?
The debate over AI development strategy reveals profound tensions between technological advantage and global safety. Current policies risk undermining both America's competitive edge and humanity's future by prioritizing short-term technology diffusion over long-term security. This misalignment between stated goals and actual policy threatens not only America's technological leadership but potentially the safe development path for transformative AI systems. The big picture: America leads China in AI development, but current diffusion policies may inadvertently undermine this advantage while creating unnecessary risks. Strategic diffusion rules should protect America's technological lead rather than diluting it through indiscriminate sharing. The current approach appears self-defeating—claiming...
read May 14, 2025US eases Nvidia chip export limits but tightens pressure on China’s AI tech
The United States has abruptly reversed course on AI chip export restrictions while simultaneously targeting Chinese competitors, signaling a major policy shift that aligns with Nvidia's interests. This development comes as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang joins President Trump in Saudi Arabia to court international AI investments, highlighting the growing intersection of geopolitics, corporate interests, and AI technology development in shaping global tech policy. The big picture: The US Department of Commerce has rescinded the Biden-era AI Diffusion Rule that would have limited exports of advanced AI chips just days before it was set to take effect on May 15th. The...
read May 13, 2025AI chip demand surge reflected in TSMC’s April sales data
The S&P 500 hovers near record highs as investors digest a week of significant market-moving news including earnings reports, Apple's AI search exploration, Federal Reserve decisions, and international trade developments. Despite these major headlines, the index ended relatively flat, suggesting markets needed a breather after the recent historic rally. The oscillator indicator correctly signaled this pause was due, though markets closed the week less overbought than they began. Taiwan Semi's strong sales signal AI boom continues: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company reported impressive April sales figures that exceeded expectations, showing 22.2% month-over-month and 48.1% year-over-year growth. The results indicate the AI...
read May 13, 2025Treasury probes Benchmark Capital’s links to Chinese AI firm Manus
The U.S. Treasury Department's review of a $75 million investment in Manus AI reveals intensifying AI competition between the U.S. and China. This government scrutiny represents a significant escalation in tech nationalism as America seeks to prevent strategic AI capabilities from being developed in China through U.S. capital. The investigation tests the boundaries of recent investment restrictions and could set precedents for how cross-border AI deals are structured in an increasingly divided technological landscape. The big picture: Treasury officials are examining whether Benchmark Capital's investment in Manus AI violates restrictions under the Outbound Investment Security Program that went into effect...
read May 12, 2025Trump claims Apple CEO backs China tariff reduction
The U.S.-China tariff suspension announced by President Trump has sparked a rally in Apple shares as the tech giant navigates complex trade relationships while expanding U.S. operations. This development comes amid ongoing pressure from the Trump administration for Apple to relocate more manufacturing to American soil, highlighting the delicate balance tech companies must maintain between global supply chains and domestic production demands. The big picture: Apple stock jumped 6% following the announcement of a 90-day suspension of most U.S.-China tariffs, outpacing the broader tech market's 3% gain. President Trump claimed in an Oval Office statement that he spoke with Apple...
read May 12, 2025Google AI transforms photos into videos on Honor phones, though amusing errors persist
Honor debuts Google's Veo 2 image-to-video AI on smartphones before the technology reaches Gemini users, offering a glimpse into how AI video generation is becoming more accessible. This notable early implementation showcases both the potential and current limitations of consumer-facing AI video tools, while establishing a precedent for how similar features might be monetized as they become more widely available. The big picture: Chinese phone manufacturer Honor has integrated Google's Veo 2 image-to-video AI generator into its latest smartphones before the technology is widely available to Google's own Gemini users. The feature will debut on Honor 400 and 400 Pro...
read May 9, 2025AI chip tracking bill aims to curb China’s tech access
The U.S. government is escalating efforts to prevent advanced AI chips from reaching China through new location-tracking requirements. A newly proposed bill would mandate tracking systems for export-controlled AI semiconductors, addressing growing concerns about smuggling and unauthorized use of American technology that could enhance China's military capabilities. The big picture: Republican Senator Tom Cotton introduced the "Chip Security Act" that would require location-tracking mechanisms for export-controlled AI chips to prevent diversion to unauthorized users, particularly China. The Commerce Department would be directed to implement these verification systems on both the chips themselves and products containing them. Companies would be required...
read May 5, 2025MediaTek’s Q1 results reveal 4 key AI and mobile trends
MediaTek's first quarter results reveal a complex picture of growth amid margin pressures and strategic investments in AI and advanced wireless technologies. The Taiwanese chipmaker's performance highlights both the opportunities and challenges facing semiconductor companies as they navigate shifting product demands, geopolitical uncertainties, and the race to capitalize on AI computing capabilities. These financial indicators offer valuable insight into the broader tech ecosystem's health and strategic priorities. The big picture: MediaTek posted mixed Q1 results with revenue growth but declining profits, showcasing the semiconductor industry's volatile nature amid AI and wireless technology transformations. Revenue reached NT$153.3 billion ($4.7 billion), increasing...
read May 5, 2025AI job creation challenge looms for China, historian warns
China's youth unemployment crisis presents a significant challenge for the world's second-largest economy, as historian Rana Mitter from Harvard Kennedy School highlights the need for AI-driven job creation strategies. With unemployment rates soaring among young Chinese citizens, the government faces pressure to harness artificial intelligence technologies to open new career pathways rather than simply displace existing jobs—a critical economic imperative that could determine China's future competitiveness and social stability. The big picture: China needs to develop strategies that allow artificial intelligence to generate new employment opportunities rather than simply automating existing jobs away. Rana Mitter, a historian at Harvard Kennedy...
read