Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has launched its long-awaited next-generation artificial intelligence model, DeepSeek-V4, marking a significant step in the intensifying global AI competition. The announcement comes more than a year after the company surprised the tech world with a cost-efficient reasoning model that rivalled leading Western systems. Read More: Baidu unveils low-cost AI models to challenge DeepSeek According […]
China tech
Alibaba to spend $431 million on AI app promotions during Lunar New Year
BEIJING: Alibaba said on Monday it will spend 3 billion yuan ($431 million) to attract users to its Qwen AI app during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, intensifying competition among China’s leading tech firms. The spending pledge, triple the amounts announced by rivals Tencent and Baidu, will begin on February 6 and include incentives […]
AI companion toys take center stage at CES 2026
LAS VEGAS: AI companion toys emerged as one of the most prominent trends at CES 2026, highlighting the growing demand for technology designed to form long-term emotional connections with users. Of the nearly 60 companies showcasing AI companion products at the event, more than 80% were Chinese enterprises, underscoring China’s leading role in the fast-expanding […]
US approves chip export licences for Samsung, SK Hynix China plants
The United States has approved annual licences allowing South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to ship chipmaking equipment to their factories in China throughout 2026, sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. The decision offers temporary relief to the two major memory chipmakers at a time of heightened scrutiny over technology exports to […]
Asian markets rebound as strong U.S. data boosts investor confidence
SINGAPORE – Asian stock markets rebounded on Thursday, recovering from a sharp selloff in the previous session, as upbeat U.S. economic data restored investor confidence and drew buyers back into markets trading near record highs. Data released on Wednesday showed the U.S. services sector reached an eight-month high in October, while private payrolls rose by […]