8 h. ago Chinese company Landspace aims to debut its reusable methane rocket this year (video)

Chinese company Landspace aims to debut its reusable methane rocket this year (video)  Space

Events

3 d. ago Chinese EV maker Zeekr plugs in to hybrids to tap into soaring sales

Zeekr, a premium electric vehicle (EV) unit of Geely Auto, has jumped on the hybrid technology bandwagon to widen its customer base amid rising competition in the world’s largest automotive market. The Hangzhou-based company has become the latest mainland Chinese EV assembler to launch plug-in hybrids, leaving Shanghai-headquartered Nio as the only domestic company making pure EVs. US carmaker Tesla, which produces cars on the mainland, is another maker of pure EVs. “Nearly all Chinese carmakers...

Politics

4 d. ago Chinese design firm converts swimming pool into office, triggers safety probe

A Chinese decoration company has sparked online controversy and amusement after it converted a drained swimming pool into a temporary office. Staff get down to business in the “deep end” before exiting the office using the original poolside ladders. The quirky set-up came to light after an employee from Luban Decoration Group, based in Chengdu, Sichuan province, southwestern China, posted a video online entitled “Swimming Pool Transformed into Office Space”. The clip quickly went...

Politics

8 d. ago Meta’s AI lab is stacked with Chinese talent, drawing attention back home

Meta Platforms’ announcement that several prominent Chinese names working in artificial intelligence (AI) would be joining the company has triggered an outpouring of admiration back home, as CEO Mark Zuckerberg races to fill his new Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL) with top industry talent. Zuckerberg announced the formation of MSL in a memo on Monday, tasking it with developing Meta’s next-generation models, and emphasised the company’s vision of delivering “personal superintelligence”...

Politics

1 week ago ‘Risky choice’: why Canada’s tough stance towards US and China may backfire

The Canadian government appears to be caught between “a rock and a hard place” after trying to introduce tough measures targeting both American and Chinese companies last week, analysts said. Ottawa raised eyebrows by ordering a high-profile Chinese company to cease operations in the country due to national security concerns on Friday – the same day that US President Donald Trump announced he was breaking off trade negotiations with Canada over its proposed digital services tax. But Canada has...

Events

2 w. ago Chinese firm Dobot develops robotic arm capable of lifting 30kg at record speed

Chinese robotics company Shenzhen Dobot has developed a new product that can deliver a high payload at record speed. The CR 30H series, consisting of three models, is a six-axis robotic arm that can lift as much as 30 kilograms at speeds of 300 degrees per second, the fastest in the industry for such a payload, according to a company statement on Friday. In addition, the machine is able to remain stable, with a vibration range of less than 0.3 millimeters under a full load, allowing it to...

Politics

2 w. ago Bipartisan bill aims to ban Chinese AI from federal agencies

Bipartisan bill aims to ban Chinese AI from federal agencies  Fast Company

Politics

2 w. ago Trump administration’s shifting stance on Chinese student visas has broader consequences

Trump administration’s shifting stance on Chinese student visas has broader consequences  Fast Company

Politics

3 w. ago Malaysia ‘stands firm’ on US chip curbs after alleged breach by Chinese company

Trade authorities in Malaysia have launched an investigation into claims that Chinese engineers bypassed US chip curbs by renting data centres packed with high-end Nvidia chips to train their artificial intelligence (AI) model in the country. The allegation, made in a report by The Wall Street Journal last Thursday, poses a potential stumbling block to Malaysia’s tariff negotiations with the US, which has curbed China’s access to high-end chips, including through third nations. Malaysia’s trade...

Politics

3 w. ago Unitree Robotics boosts capital base, paving the way for new fundraising round

Hangzhou-based Unitree Robotics, a rising star in China’s booming robotics industry, has increased its registered capital from 2.6 million yuan to 2.9 million yuan (US$400,000), a move that could signal preparations for a new fundraising round. The company fuelled speculation about a potential initial public offering (IPO) in May when it transitioned from a limited liability company to a joint-stock company. According to Chinese corporate database Tianyancha, this restructuring allowed Unitree...

Politics

4 w. ago China steps up global aviation expansion as Comac bids for Laos carrier

The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) has reportedly bid to take a majority stake in the flag carrier of Laos, as the state-owned Chinese aviation firm continues its push to expand its market in Southeast Asia. The deal – which is pending approval by the Lao authorities – would see Comac help Lao Airlines overhaul its operations and stem its losses in exchange for the carrier agreeing to use the Chinese company’s passenger jets, Vientiane Times quoted Prime Minister Sonexay...

Politics

last month Nvidia CEO says Huawei has everyone ‘covered’ if US chip ban on China stays

Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang said his company’s technology remained a generation ahead of those developed by China, but warned that Huawei Technologies was in a position to expand its semiconductor business should US chip export curbs stay in place. In an interview with US broadcaster CNBC on Thursday, Huang appeared to echo recent published remarks made by Huawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei, who said the Chinese company’s Ascend artificial intelligence (AI) processors lagged behind...

Politics

last month ByteDance helps jewellery firm Lao Feng Xiang push AI glasses to China’s elderly

Social media giant ByteDance is helping the 177-year-old Chinese jewellery company Lao Feng Xiang develop a new generation of smart glasses, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), that feature real-time voice navigation and translation functions. Lao Feng Xiang debuted their initial line of wearable gadgets at Wednesday’s opening of the International Exhibition of Senior Care, Rehabilitation Medicine and Healthcare, the world’s biggest senior care expo, that is being held in the company’s home...

Politics

last month Jack Ma replies to Alibaba employee’s letter lamenting ‘company disease’

Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba Group Holding, responded to the resignation letter of a long-term employee on Tuesday, a rare move for the tech veteran who stepped back from all corporate roles in 2019. In a response published on Alibaba’s internal website, Ma addressed the concerns raised by a 15-year employee, who criticised the “big company disease” afflicting the Chinese e-commerce giant in an extensive internal letter. The employee, a product development leader on the team responsible for...

Politics