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Alibaba is the world’s biggest e-commerce group. Founded by Jack Ma, it owns Tmall.com and its consumer-to-consumer business Taobao.com. Alibaba Group is the owner of the South China Morning Post.

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Big Tech
The Zhipu AI logo is displayed on a smartphone with the home page in background, June 26, 2025. Photo: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Big Tech
Zhipu AI ramps up push towards human-level AI, reiterates open source pledge
The firm’s campaign to engage with the global tech community comes after it unveiled the latest iteration of its flagship GLM model series.
The annual Spring Festival Gala has become a key marketing battleground for China’s Big Tech companies. Photo: CCTV
Big Tech
Tech giants go prime time in the fight for China’s biggest audience
ByteDance, Tencent and Alibaba are in talks over Spring Festival Gala sponsorship packages, as AI rivalry becomes a fight for ad real estate.
Crowds at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on July 28, 2025. Photo: AFP
Tech War
Shanghai to double down on open-source AI amid push for tech self-sufficiency
Shanghai is headquarters for AI model developers MiniMax and SenseTime, as well as AI chip developers such as Biren Technology and Enflame.
ByteDance’s top-ranked Doubao AI app. Photo: Shutterstock
Tech Trends
ByteDance, other major Chinese tech firms lead local consumer AI market: report
ByteDance-owned Doubao remains the country’s top consumer AI app, as DeepSeek’s namesake chatbot takes the No 2 spot.
Zhipu AI, known internationally as Z.ai, says its new GLM-4.7 model features improved coding abilities. Photo: Shutterstock
Tech Trends
China’s Zhipu and MiniMax release latest AI models ahead of Hong Kong listing
The near-simultaneous release on Monday underscores the two firms’ efforts to drum up interest for their respective Hong Kong IPOs.
The headquarters of Alibaba’s DingTalk in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. Photo: Getty
Big Tech
Alibaba’s DingTalk rolls out Agent OS as it bets bigger on AI agents
DingTalk is moving beyond software into a fuller-stack AI agent play, launching a dedicated operating system and physical terminals.
Significant uncertainty remains, as Beijing has yet to approve any H200 chip purchases. Photo: Shutterstock
Big Tech
Nvidia aims to start H200 AI chip shipments to China by mid-February: sources
The US chip designer plans to fulfil initial orders from existing stock, with shipments expected to total 40,000 to 80,000 H200 chips.
5
Cainiao will launch new or expand instant commerce warehouses for Tmall Supermarket. Photo: Shutterstock
Big Tech
Alibaba ramps up China instant commerce push with Cainiao and Tmall tie-up
Partnership designed to expand warehouse network and boost Taobao Shangou’s rapid service as rivals Meituan and JD.com scale up facilities.
China’s Southern Regional Electricity Market, the world’s largest unified power market, has fully switched to the homegrown Tianquan solver, which is 14 per cent faster than US rivals. Photo: EPA-EFE
Science
How China cracked US ‘super code’ that controls most power grids in the world
Breakthrough could shake-up global tech markets with nations able to run their own grids and break away from US dominance.
18
China will remain the top consumer of semiconductor manufacturing hardware at least until 2027, a report says. Photo: Xinhua
Tech
China to remain biggest buyer of chipmaking equipment through 2027: SEMI
China chipmakers are projected to continue outspending the world on wafer fab equipment through 2027, report says.
1
Amap has become the first Alibaba ecosystem service to be fully integrated with its Qwen app. Photo: Handout
Business
Alibaba deepens ecosystem with Qwen-Amap tie-up for routes, restaurants and more
The integration marks Alibaba’s first full tie-in for Qwen, as the company pushes for more synergy across its sprawling consumer platforms.
Chinese AI developers are largely pursuing an open-source approach, releasing the weights of their models for end-users to freely deploy and modify. Photo: Shutterstock
Tech Trends
China’s open-source AI models rival US giants, making engagement urgent: report
The report calls on US actors to engage with Chinese firms as the AI landscape continues to evolve.
14
Tencent Holdings’ latest restructuring underscored the intense competition in the country’s fast-developing AI sector. Photo: Shutterstock
Big Tech
Tencent shakes up AI operations, names recent recruit as chief AI scientist
Vinces Yao Shunyu now serves as chief AI scientist under the CEO’s office, reporting directly to Tencent president Martin Lau.
An employee works at a semiconductor wafer workshop in Chongqing on August 24, 2023. Photo: Xinhua
China Opinion
Opinion|China still needs Nvidia’s advanced AI chips – but for how long?
Beijing seems determined to take up the challenge of building most parts of the AI supply chain domestically.
1
Mannings is one of Hong Kong’s largest health and beauty retailers. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Companies
Why retailers are beating a hasty retreat from mainland China
Hong Kong retailer Mannings will cease online operations from December 26 and close its physical stores after January 15.
5
The questions in FAI-C were reviewed by a panel of Biblical experts, including theologians, pastors, psychologists and scholars of ethics. Photo: SCMP
Tech
China’s Qwen and DeepSeek edge out US AI models in Christian values benchmark
US start-up Gloo’s Flourishing AI Christian benchmark tested how the output of AI models ‘help people flourish’, CEO Pat Gelsinger said.
13
Chinese AI start-up Shengshu Technology has released a new version of Vidu, its text-to-video tool similar to OpenAI’s Sora. Photo: Handout
Tech Trends
Rapid advances in China’s AI video space lead to widespread tech adoption
Cutting-edge tools from Shengshu, Kuaishou, Alibaba Cloud and SenseTime transform content creation for marketers and creators alike.
1
ByteDance is the leading recruiter of tech talent in mainland China this year. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS
Tech Trends
ByteDance dominates China’s tech hiring as AI talent demand surges
ByteDance tops rivals Meituan and Alibaba in recruitments this year, according to professional social networking platform Maimai.
Nvidia’s H200 artificial intelligence processors will give China a much-needed boost in computing power. Photo: Shutterstock
Big Tech
Why Nvidia chip is unlikely to derail ambitions of China’s Huawei, Moore Threads
China’s huge demand for AI computing power leaves room for growth for both US and domestic chips, analysts say.
12
Moonshot’s flagship Kimi K2 Thinking model has stunned the global AI community with its impressive writing skills. Photo: Shutterstock
Big Tech
Kimi developer Moonshot shows China’s growing AI depth: US government report
Washington’s evaluation highlights an increasing number of Chinese companies developing world-leading open-weight AI models, not just DeepSeek.
1
Hong Kong’s finance chief has also pointed to positive investor sentiment after several entities recently bought and leased commercial properties in the city. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong Economy
Speed up innovation, create jobs key facets of next Hong Kong budget: Paul Chan
Finance chief says public consultation for next budget will start soon and he ‘looks forward’ to ideas from residents.
3
A record 32,000 entrepreneurs applied for the 7th Africa’s Business Heroes competition in Kigali, Rwanda, on December 13, 2025. Photo: Handout
Diplomacy
Entrepreneurs vie for Africa’s Business Heroes titles in start-up bonanza
Record 32,000 applications from 54 nations vie for seventh Africa’s Business Heroes awards to recognise 100 start-ups over 10 years.
1
The Qwen logo is seen in this illustration taken, January 29, 2025. Photo: Reuters
Big Tech
Meta sees role reversal as it adopts Alibaba’s Qwen to train AI models
Throughout 2023 and 2024, Chinese firms keen to catch up with the US used Meta’s Llama to help them build their own models.
8
Alipay and AI glasses maker Rokid have teamed up to debut a smart glasses AI pay solution on the Rokid Lingzhu AI development platform. Photo: Sina
Big Tech
Alipay and Rokid open up AI payment function on smart glasses to developers
The function has been made available to participants in the Rokid Spatial Joy 25 Global AR and AI Developer Competition.
China Future Tech Briefing|China chases superintelligent AI without sci-fi movie risks
AI systems with human-level intelligence, or higher, offer the promise of solutions to humanity’s biggest challenges but the risk of humans losing control.
Aura projects applications directly into the user’s sightline, enabling interaction via hand gestures and granting access to Google Play apps. Photo: Handout
Tech Trends
China’s Xreal to power Google’s Android AI glasses as smart eyewear demand grows
Project Aura, which features dual-chip design and optical see-through lenses, is a fresh example of China’s expanding R&D capabilities.
The logo of Meta Platforms is seen outside its headquarters in Menlo Park, California. Photo: TNS
Big Tech
AI race: Meta reportedly uses Alibaba’s Qwen for its ‘Avocado’ model
Reported move to reinvigorate Meta’s faltering AI effort with new ‘Avocado’ model is another likely win for Chinese AI.
Alibaba’s Zhou Jingren speaks during a summit in Hong Kong on November 13, 2023. Photo: May Tse
Big Tech
Alibaba names AI-lab leader Zhou Jingren as new group partner
He will join the 17-member Alibaba Partnership, which steers the company’s course and includes co-founders Jack Ma and Joe Tsai.
Chinese venture capitalist Allen Zhu Xiaohu of GSR Ventures Management. Photo: Handout
Tech
Power and data centres will put China ahead of US in the AI race, says investor
AI is now a race to build data centres and secure electricity, says investor Allen Zhu, who argues China’s energy push puts it ahead.
3
Opinion
Editorial|Export curbs or not, Trump’s America can’t slow China’s tech surge
US debate over how to contain China’s tech development is irrelevant as Chinese domestic industry development has already taken full flight.
SCMP Editorial
2
Editorial|China’s low-cost AI is showing up America’s high-cost tech model
The real China threat is in exposing America’s AI myths by showing what can be achieved at much lower costs and with greater efficiency.
SCMP Editorial
2
Editorial|Hong Kong must stay vigilant against illegal work schemes
While some might think there is no harm in making quick money, turning a blind eye to illegal work could put public safety at risk.
SCMP Editorial
Editorial|China and US are locked in high-stakes fight to shape AI future
While Washington wants to dominate the field with a few close allies, Beijing sees its development as a win-win for all.
SCMP Editorial
3
Editorial|Hong Kong is poised to catch the global AI wave
After being slow to catch on to the first wave of internet innovations, the city is making its mark in the field of AI development.
SCMP Editorial
1
My Take|China’s rapid adoption of AI demands greater scrutiny of the social impact
In contrast to the perception that Beijing has placed a lot of ‘guardrails’ on AI, China’s AI regulation so far has been limited.
SCMP ColumnistZhou Xin
Editorial|China welcomes rise in consumption but long way to go yet
Retail sales jumped to boost economy in May thanks to slew of government incentives and subsidies that need to continue during costly US trade war.
SCMP Editorial
Editorial|Hong Kong IPOs on track to make May a merry month
As firms line up to enter Hong Kong’s market for initial public offerings, estimates suggest the city may rank among the top three global venues this year.
SCMP Editorial
My Take|China’s ‘instant commerce’ is no fast fix for low consumer spending
Consumers love instant delivery of everything from clothing to everyday items, but no amount of convenience will address China’s demand problem.
SCMP ColumnistZhou Xin
1
My Take|DeepSeek has changed China’s AI model landscape – what’s next?
The start-up has emerged as the unlikely winner of a dizzying domestic competition. Can it reshape the global market as well?
SCMP ColumnistZhou Xin
6
Editorial|Hong Kong SFC’s bid to cool IPO margin lending fever boosts market health
The Hong Kong regulator warns against ‘imprudent and aggressive financing practices’ as it imposes restraints via deposits and acts on multiple orders.
SCMP Editorial
My Take|China’s tech upgrade keeps export machine roaring despite US tariffs
The proliferation of e-commerce and other technologies has helped China maintain its resilience amid trade barriers.
SCMP ColumnistZhou Xin
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