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Big Tech

Alibaba Cloud’s new Qwen 2.5-Max AI model is now available for developers and enterprises. Photo: Shutterstock
Artificial intelligence

Alibaba springs a Lunar New Year surprise on DeepSeek, global AI market

Alibaba touts that its new Qwen 2.5-Max AI model had ‘comprehensively outperformed’ DeepSeek-V3 in certain benchmark tests.

Robotics

Unitree humanoid robots, backed by Alibaba tech, delight Spring Gala show

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Artificial intelligence

Explainer | How start-up DeepSeek emerged as the unlikely game changer in US-China AI war

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China technology

DeepSeek advance triggers Nvidia rout, raising concerns over AI spending

Large US tech companies may follow suit and replicate some of the training techniques that DeepSeek leveraged to drive the cost of R1 down.

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The Nvidia and DeepSeek logos are seen in this illustration taken January 27, 2025. Photo: Reuters
The Nvidia and DeepSeek logos are seen in this illustration taken January 27, 2025. Photo: Reuters
Semiconductors

China’s top memory chip maker again defies US sanctions with design breakthrough

Yangtze Memory Technologies Corporation is integrating a new design into chips with 294 gates, research firm finds.

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China technology

Weibo adjusts algorithms to improve ‘public values’ amid government crackdown

Weibo has been under fire in recent years for having too many trending topics about celebrities.

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Artificial intelligence

Chinese AI disrupter DeepSeek claims top spot in US App Store, dethroning ChatGPT

DeepSeek has integrated its reasoning model into the web and app versions of its chatbots for unlimited use at no cost.

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The DeepSeek logo and website seen on a smartphone in this arranged illustration taken May 14, 2024. Photo: Shutterstock
The DeepSeek logo and website seen on a smartphone in this arranged illustration taken May 14, 2024. Photo: Shutterstock
TikTok

Trump discussing TikTok purchase with multiple people, decision in 30 days

Under one deal, ByteDance would retain a stake in TikTok but data collection and software updates would be overseen by Oracle.

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Artificial intelligence

Meta Platforms to spend US$65 billion on AI infrastructure in 2025: Zuckerberg

Meta’s chief executive said the funds will be used to build a data centre ‘so large that it would cover a significant part of Manhattan’.

ByteDance

ByteDance staff to lose Lunar New Year perk from 2026, gain medical benefits

The new benefits package includes improved medical insurance, with access to premium medical care in regular public hospitals.

The ByteDance logo is seen at the company’s office in Shanghai, July 4, 2023. Photo: Reuters
Artificial intelligence

ByteDance in race with US rivals to drive artificial general intelligence

The Chinese unicorn’s Seed Edge programme reflects its aggressive investment strategy, as other major tech firms push their AI initiatives.

TikTok owner ByteDance aims to tackle disruptive artificial-intelligence research. Photo: Shutterstock
TikTok owner ByteDance aims to tackle disruptive artificial-intelligence research. Photo: Shutterstock
TikTok

ByteDance board member ‘optimistic’ TikTok will find non-sale options in US

ByteDance board member William Ford says exploration of non-sale options is key to the company’s talks with the Trump administration.

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Semiconductors

Chipmaker Texas Instruments’ forecast signals semiconductor slump is persisting

The company has recorded nine straight quarters of sales decline, as much of the electronics industry remains mired in a slowdown.

Artificial intelligence

China poised to expand AI infrastructure to keep pace with US Stargate project

Chinese local governments, telecommunications firms and Big Tech companies have been building new AI facilities over the past few years.

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The US-China rivalry in artificial intelligence has widened to cover the digital infrastructure used to drive the technology’s development. Photo: Shutterstock
Semiconductors

SK Hynix profit surpasses Samsung, but shares dip on lower memory chip demand

The company said supply will remain tight for high-performance chips, but demand declines will accelerate for legacy products.

The logo of SK Hynix seen on its product during the 26th Semiconductor Exhibition in Seoul on October 23, 2024.Photo: Reuters
The logo of SK Hynix seen on its product during the 26th Semiconductor Exhibition in Seoul on October 23, 2024.Photo: Reuters
Smartphones

Samsung unveils AI-powered Galaxy S25 smartphones running only Qualcomm chips

Samsung unveiled new AI features in its latest handsets, which do not use any of the company’s Exynos processors, in a setback for its chip business.

E-commerce

China’s super app WeChat bolsters e-commerce credentials via gift-giving feature

The feature accounted for over 80 per cent of recent sales made by live-streaming e-commerce firm East Buy on WeChat, local reports say.

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US-China relations

US man says he set fire to congressman’s office over TikTok ban

Caiden Stachowicz, 19, faces more than 50 years behind bars if convicted of charges including arson and making terrorist threats.

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TikTok went dark on Saturday but came back online hours later. Photo illustration: dpa
TikTok went dark on Saturday but came back online hours later. Photo illustration: dpa
Video gaming

Tencent’s Honor of Kings spin-off gets green light from Chinese gaming regulator

While the launch date is unclear, there is hope it will be rolled out this year as it was featured in the iPhone 16 release last September.

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Artificial intelligence

Tencent ramps up global AI efforts with advanced Hunyuan 3D-generation system

The open-source Hunyuan3D 2.0 is expected to lower barriers to entry for using AI models across video gaming, social media and other sectors.

Artificial intelligence

China’s most popular AI app gets facelift with ByteDance’s Doubao 1.5

The closed-source model bested leading models from OpenAI, Anthropic and Alibaba in some benchmark tests.

ByteDance’s ChatGPT-like Doubao bot has emerged as the most popular AI app for Chinese consumers. Photo: Simon Song
TikTok

Exclusive | Art of the TikTok deal: China softening to potential app sale, sources say

Beijing could be more open to ByteDance selling some shares to American investors to improve US relations, sources and analysts say.

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An iPhone displaying the TikTok page in Apple’s App Store in the US on January 17. Photo: EPA-EFE
An iPhone displaying the TikTok page in Apple’s App Store in the US on January 17. Photo: EPA-EFE
Artificial intelligence

Alibaba Cloud rolls out expanded suite of AI models, tools in overseas push

The company’s latest move aligns with its broader strategy to ramp up overseas investments in key markets around the world.

ByteDance

ByteDance launches AI code editor overseas amid TikTok ban delay

The Chinese owner of TikTok rolled out the new software targeting overseas Chinese coders after a reprieve from the Trump administration.

US-ally trade wars

Taiwan’s Compal, Inventec mull US expansion to counter Trump tariffs

Texas is seen as a top choice for the Taiwanese laptop because of the state’s power infrastructure and proximity to Mexico.

A demonstrator holds flags of Taiwan and the US in Burlingame, California, on January 14, 2017. Photo: Reuters
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China Future Tech
HIGHLIGHTS FROM
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Big Tech

China’s most popular AI app gets facelift with ByteDance’s Doubao 1.5

ByteDance’s ChatGPT-like Doubao bot has emerged as the most popular AI app for Chinese consumers. Photo: Simon Song

Big Tech

Alibaba springs a Lunar New Year surprise on DeepSeek, global AI market

Alibaba Cloud’s new Qwen 2.5-Max AI model is now available for developers and enterprises. Photo: Shutterstock

China Business

Unitree humanoid robots, backed by Alibaba tech, delight Spring Gala show

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Unitree’s H1 humanoid robots take centre stage to perform at this year’s Spring Festival Gala show. Photo: Unitree

Big Tech

Explainer | How start-up DeepSeek emerged as the unlikely game changer in US-China AI war

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DeepSeek’s team of young scientists is made up almost exclusively of Chinese nationals from some of the top schools in the country. Photo: Shutterstock

Tech Trends

China’s DeepSeek goes quiet for Lunar New Year as AI models rattle Wall Street

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DeepSeek’s rapid rise is causing Silicon Valley to reassess business strategies in artificial intelligence. Photo: Reuters
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