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The latest news, analysis and opinion on Apps. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google Gemini were among the AI tools recently found to give specific advice on how to end one’s life, highlighting an “ongoing battle” for creators and users, especially those with mental health issues. Photo: dpa
ChatGPT and other generative AIs

ChatGPT and other AI chatbots’ how-to suicide advice raises big questions

Recent experiment discovers Chat GPT, Google Gemini and other AI tools were quick to give specific self-harm advice, if asked the right way.

Hong Kong society

US firm says it made Hong Kong student’s award-winning app ‘from scratch’

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Alibaba

Alibaba debuts loyalty scheme with shopping discounts, hotel perks

Alibaba

Alibaba unites online shopping, travel booking under new loyalty scheme

Members of the new membership programme will enjoy benefits across a range of Alibaba services, sources say.

The Taobao app. Photo: Simon Song
Malaysia

Malaysian parents back curbs on ‘brain rot’ excess of social media

Government weighs ban on children below the age of 13 from having social media accounts to protect them from harmful content.

US-China relations

US commerce secretary says next week’s China trade talks could include TikTok

Without divestment deal for ByteDance, app will go dark in US and ‘those decisions are coming very soon’, Lutnick says.

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Artificial intelligence

Tencent’s AI-powered programming tool fully automates app development

CodeBuddy IDE provides a ‘conversation-is-programming’ approach, enabling even a non-technical user to design and build applications.

Tencent’s foray into sophisticated, AI-powered tools for developers reflected the significant advances being made by Chinese tech companies. Photo: Shutterstock
DeepSeek

DeepSeek’s chatbot sees a drop in downloads as AI apps for work, education rise

The average monthly download of DeepSeek’s chatbot fell 72 per cent to 22.6 million in the second quarter from the preceding three months.

Artificial intelligence

Manus AI lays off China staff, scrubs social media, shelves mainland service

The start-up has relocated to Singapore with an eye on overseas clients and funding amid heightened US-China tensions.

TikTok

TikTok urgently pitches Canada security solution to avoid shutdown

TikTok started this month to freeze spending after a directive to close its Canadian unit, which cited national security concerns.

The Tiktok logo on a smartphone. Photo: dpa
Computer hackers

Hacked Elmo X account called for extermination of Jews, US media reports

Antisemitic posts and messages calling Trump a ‘puppet’ of Netanyahu were shared on Sesame Street character’s account by an ‘unknown hacker’.

The Sesame Street character Elmo. Photo: AP
United States

Musk’s xAI apologises after Grok chatbot praises Hitler

The company blamed the offensive posts on a software update meant to make the artificial intelligence assistant act more like a human.

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European Union

EU watchdog opens TikTok probe over fresh China data transfer claims

It follows a US$620 million fine levied against TikTok by Europe’s Data Protection Commission in May over other data transfer issues.

Artificial intelligence

Elon Musk unveils xAI’s updated chatbot, Grok 4, after antisemitism controversy

The world’s wealthiest person says Grok 4 is ‘smarter than almost all graduate students, in all disciplines, simultaneously’.

“At times it may lack common sense,” Elon Musk says of Grok 4, the latest iteration of start-up xAI’s chatbot. Photo: Vincent Feuray/Hans Lucas/AFP
X (formerly Twitter)

Linda Yaccarino steps down as CEO of Musk’s X, amid Grok AI chatbot scandal

The move came after what she called ‘two incredible years’, with one analyst saying Yaccarino ‘lasted longer than many expected’.

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Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X, speaks at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

TikTok prepares to launch US-specific app, as Trump pushes for sale

The US version is expected to use its own algorithm, resolving the issue of whether China’s ByteDance will share its crown jewel.

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E-commerce

JD.com’s US$1.4 billion plan heats up delivery battle with Meituan, Alibaba

E-commerce giant unveils ‘Double Hundred Plan’ as industry-wide daily delivery orders reach a new high of more than 200 million.

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Sex and relationships

Fed up with Tinder? How high-end matchmaking is making a comeback

Frustrated with dating apps like Tinder, more people are turning to elite matchmakers to find love – and paying big money to do so.

Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal in a scene from Materialists. Photo: AP
TikTok

TikTok building new version of app ahead of expected US sale: report

The news follows Trump’s Friday statement about talks with China and a possible deal.

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TikTok

TikTok Shop cuts more US jobs as Trump’s ban deadline looms

The team has also been replacing US-hired staff near Seattle with managers connected to China.

Artificial intelligence

China AI champion Baidu rolls out sweeping changes to online search platform

As an initial effort, Baidu’s search bar was enlarged and turned into a ‘smart box’ that handles more tasks than simple text queries.

Baidu’s platform upgrade reflects the firm’s stated goal to “expand the boundaries of search” using AI. Photo: Shutterstock
ByteDance

ByteDance’s Douyin launches Yelp-like AI chatbot to suggest eateries, reviews

The chatbot called Tanfan can also be used to compare selected restaurants and watch food video blogs.

Tanfan, which translates to “discover meals” in English, is only accessible via the Chinese short video app Douyin. Photo: Shutterstock
TikTok

Trump says he has group of ‘very wealthy’ people to buy TikTok

US president says there’s a buyer for China-based TikTok, but won’t divulge names yet.

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Fame and celebrity

Meet Chloe and Claire Lee, the sisters behind the popular Selleb app

Before creating Selleb, Chloe and Claire Lee were trained musicians who resold thrift store clothes on Poshmark; now they rub elbows with models and influencers.

Hong Kong politics

Opinion | Hong Kong handling of taxi/Uber mess has been a decade of disappointment

The promised regulation could finally make Uber and similar operations part of the authorised transport network – or it could be another policy fudge.

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A taxi driver looks at a ride-hailing app on February 3. Photo: Jelly Tse
Germany

DeepSeek faces ban from Apple, Google app stores in Germany

Apple, Google must now decide whether to block the app in Germany, though an exact time frame has not been specified.

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The logo of the Chinese AI application DeepSeek on a computer screen. DeepSeek has come under scrutiny in the United States and Europe for its data security policies. Photo: dpa
Video gaming

Tencent-owned Supercell to launch titles like Clash Royale as WeChat mini games

The video game Brawl Stars is already available within WeChat, while Clash Royale will exclusively launch on the messaging app in September.

Sex and relationships

Can Tinder’s new Double Date feature bring back Gen Z users?

Dating app Tinder hopes to win back Gen Z users with a feature that makes it less ‘hook-uppy’ and more about having ‘a good time as friends’.

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