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Technology

Technology
Latest news features and opinion on technology, covering everything from AI innovation to smartphone makers and apps.
A DJI Phantom 3 drone flies during a demonstration at a farm and winery in the US state of Maryland in 2015. New restrictions on the drone trade could curb the number of Chinese drones entering the United States. Photo: AP
China trade

US-China drone trade dealt another strike as Trump homes in on foreign dominance

Disrupted supply chains could complicate efforts of Chinese firms to expand globally in the fast-growing drone industry, while raising costs for American buyers.

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Artificial intelligence

Back in the Harness: DeepSeek continues its pivot towards agentic AI

Artificial intelligence

Zhipu launches GLM-5.3 model as China seeks Mythos-level edge in cyber defence

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Alibaba

China’s richest province taps Alibaba to power its AI and chip push

Guangdong province deepens ties with China tech giant to boost digital innovation by focusing on AI, semiconductors and smart services.

Guangdong party secretary Huang Kunming (right), welcomed Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu Yongming to Guangzhou on Thursday to sign a strategic cooperation framework agreement. Photo: itouchtv.cn
Semiconductors

SMIC eyes expansion amid AI boom, Zhu Rongji dies, Shein nears IPO

This week: SMIC plans to boost chipmaking capacity on AI demand, former premier Zhu Rongji dies and retail investors flood Unitree IPO. Next week: Shein may open Hong Kong IPO, China retail sales may accelerate, Baidu and Alibaba post earnings, robots go on show in Beijing, and more.

Hong Kong stock market

From chasing robots to chasing profits: the numbers moving markets

Unitree Robotics, US inflation rates, gold prices, Hong Kong homes and CK Hutchison’s interim results were in the spotlight this week.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Switching lanes: who are the eager Chinese buyers of domestic premium EV models?

Younger, professionally diverse Chinese are turning to local brands for technology and qualities once tied to foreign marques.

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The Maextro S800 is displayed at the World Manufacturing Convention at the Binhu International Convention and Exhibition Center in Hefei, Anhui province. Photo: Getty Images
Artificial intelligence

Chinese doctor stuns maths world by cracking decades-old problem using ChatGPT

Jin Shanmu, a Beijing-based neurosurgeon, was trying to solve a problem related to brain ultrasounds. Instead, he made mathematical history.

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South Korea

South Korea’s moon landing, quantum chips: Seoul bets big on post-AI economy

The country has identified seven next-generation industries, including nuclear fusion and small modular reactors, to stem sluggish growth potential.

China-Latin America relations

US accuses 9 Latin American countries of helping China avoid Trump’s tariffs

More than 40 countries targeted for helping Beijing illegally avoid tariffs by rerouting trade via nations with lower American import duties.

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Chinese container ship Cosco Shipping Rose docks at the Panama Canal’s Cocoli locks in Panama City. The White House has accused nine Latin American economies of helping Beijing illegally evade US tariffs by rerouting trade through countries with lower US import duties. Photo: AP
China-Singapore relations

In Focus | Why Singapore scholarships are drawing China’s brightest STEM talent

City state’s scholarships for students from China form an early-stage talent pipeline into its highly skilled workforce, experts say.

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Illustration: Quoc Huy Truong
Semiconductors

Chinese chip foundries surge as AI boom drives triple-digit profit growth

SMIC, Hua Hong Grace results highlight how local foundries are aggressively running their plants at full capacity to meet domestic needs.

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Indonesia

Indonesia eyes mass production of home-grown EVs by 2028

Indonesia hopes to have 13 million electric motorcycles and 2 million electric cars on its roads by 2030.

Artificial intelligence

DeepSeek’s flagship AI model update underwhelms – except in cybersecurity

Chinese AI start-up’s model impresses in niche areas like cybersecurity but leaves some developers disappointed in its overall capabilities.

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Chinese artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek quietly released an updated version of its latest flagship model, DeepSeek-V4-Pro-0813, on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
China technology

The next tech race? China launches push to leapfrog US in ‘brain chip’ devices

China is throwing the power of the state behind efforts to overtake Elon Musk in a vital frontier technology: brain-computer interfaces.

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China is pushing to commercialise brain-computer interface technology. Photo: Shutterstock
Style Edit

Style Edit: Richard Mille’s fresh take on women’s watches

Amanda Mille and Cécile Guenat guide the design of watches worn by women, from Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh to football icon Sam Kerr.

Science

China is sending scientists to Iran for rare earth ‘exploration and processing’

Chinese and Iranian natural science foundations include the strategically sensitive metals in this year’s joint workshop programme.

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China-Africa relations

How Africa is becoming a ‘strategic hub’ for Chinese industrial expansion

Countries including Zimbabwe and Guinea are ending the pit-to-ship model that saw them exporting raw minerals with limited local gains.

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Large piles of bauxite ore, which is refined into aluminum, sit at a treatment area storage in Guinea. Photo: Shutterstock
Semiconductors

YMTC-backed fund invests in China’s push for an alternative chipmaking route

Guangzhou-based SOI Micro is developing a low-power logic process aimed at easing reliance on overseas technology while strengthening domestic chip capabilities.

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Malaysia

Palm oil to cool data centres? Malaysia explores option as water demand surges

However, the proposal has raised concerns that it could lead to an expansion of palm plantations and create an environmental burden.

Honor

Robot in a pocket: Honor’s new phone camera nods back at users

The Chinese smartphone maker has integrated embodied AI to control camera movement, along with other features to boost interest amid a cooling market.

Chinese smartphone maker Honor has launched the Robot Phone, a handset with a motorised, fold-out gimbal camera. Photo: Handout
China trade

EU’s new packaging rules leave China’s traders feeling boxed in

As trade tensions rise, Brussels has implemented new rules aimed at reducing packaging waste, with the threat of fines and bans for non-compliance.

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Staff members sort express parcels at the China Post Zaozhuang branch in Shandong province. Photo: Xinhua
Tencent

Tencent capex jumps 176% on AI push as revenue beats estimates

The firm’s second-quarter revenue surpassed market projections at US$30.4 billion, but the surge in AI spending led to a large negative free cash flow.

Artificial intelligence

Zuckerberg cites China threat to US lead in AI manifesto

The Meta’s chief’s 6,500-word essay on artificial intelligence backs open systems and highlights China’s infrastructure edge as a threat to US leadership.

Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s EV sales keep sliding as incentives fade and price war seen heating up

A seven-month domestic downturn contrasts with a 147.8 per cent jump in overseas shipments, highlighting a widening gap between domestic and export markets.

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Electric vehicles made by Volkswagen are seen on a production line in China’s Anhui province earlier this year. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong seeks tech exposure amid Beijing’s rising AI dominance

The city is looking to expand stock benchmarks in an effort to challenge Nasdaq’s tech dominance.

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A view of the Hong Kong skyline on July 22. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Semiconductors

Why does SK Hynix want to sell its chip facility in southwest China?

The South Korean chipmaker wants to pivot towards the high-margin AI memory sector, but analysts warn any sale would face valuation hurdles.

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US-China relations

Facebook parent Meta to unwind US$2 billion Manus AI deal after Beijing block

Chinese-founded AI platform says affected users’ data will be deleted as it returns to independent operations.

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