https://www.scmp.com/rss/324707/feed News articles, analyses and commentary about machines that mimic human cognitive functions such as learning and problem solving. This also covers chatbots, algorithms, consumer products and Big Data analysis that make use of AI. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Chinese companies engaging in artificial intelligence activities are required to set up internal “AI ethics review committees” under new rules released by Beijing on Thursday, effective immediately. The notice comes as policymakers look to ensure that fast-paced AI progress can continue in a “healthy” manner amid growing consumer and enterprise adoption. Jointly released by 10 government bodies and institutions including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, National Development... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348995/beijing-mandates-internal-ai-ethics-reviews-ensure-controllable-tech?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348995/beijing-mandates-internal-ai-ethics-reviews-ensure-controllable-tech?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:54:53 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Tencent Holdings has launched a new OpenClaw tool for enterprises that promises easy deployment of the artificial intelligence agent as part of the Chinese internet giant’s efforts to capitalise on the “lobster” frenzy in the country. ClawPro, launched in public beta by Tencent’s cloud unit on Thursday, works as an AI agent management platform for enterprises, allowing them to deploy OpenClaw templates, select models and agents, track token consumption and manage security settings. Tencent said... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348942/tencent-expands-openclaw-suite-enterprise-tool-amid-chinas-lobster-craze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348942/tencent-expands-openclaw-suite-enterprise-tool-amid-chinas-lobster-craze?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang The US government has unveiled an AI export initiative designed to cement American technological leadership while countering China’s growing influence in the sector. Washington is inviting US companies to form “preset” consortiums to offer full-stack artificial intelligence solutions around the world. Applications will be accepted until the end of June, the International Trade Administration (ITA), an agency under the US Department of Commerce, said in a news release issued on Wednesday. The... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348951/washington-launches-export-initiative-ensure-future-ai-led-united-states?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348951/washington-launches-export-initiative-ensure-future-ai-led-united-states?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:00:19 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Xiaomi has raised prices on several smartphone models, joining a broader wave of increases across China’s handset makers as surging memory chip costs ripple through the global consumer electronics supply chain. The company said on Friday that prices for three models would rise by about 200 yuan (US$29), with the adjustments taking effect next Saturday. The move follows similar increases by domestic peers including Oppo, Vivo and Honor in March. Xiaomi attributed the hike to “continued sharp... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348944/xiaomi-lifts-handset-prices-memory-chip-crunch-ripples-through-supply-chain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348944/xiaomi-lifts-handset-prices-memory-chip-crunch-ripples-through-supply-chain?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:00:13 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang China is rolling out a campaign to sharply cut artificial intelligence computing costs for small businesses, as demand for processing power surges alongside a fresh round of price increases by domestic providers. The country plans to build an “inclusive computing service network” – offering broad coverage, lower costs and improved service quality – to reduce barriers for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking access to computing resources, according to a notice published by the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348910/china-build-inclusive-ai-network-ease-cost-pressures-small-firms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348910/china-build-inclusive-ai-network-ease-cost-pressures-small-firms?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Manulife, HSBC Holdings and Barclays are among the big financial firms that have announced plans to boost their adoption of artificial intelligence, in line with the Hong Kong government’s efforts to promote the use of the technology. Manulife last week said it had relocated Mark Czajkowski, chief AI officer for Asia, to Hong Kong from Singapore, and had appointed Liu Hongjuan as chief AI and data officer of Manulife Hong Kong and Macau, a newly created post, on March 9. HSBC Holdings, the... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3348897/manulife-hsbc-barclays-among-big-finance-firms-pushing-ai-adoption-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3348897/manulife-hsbc-barclays-among-big-finance-firms-pushing-ai-adoption-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Chinese companies including Alibaba Cloud and Zhipu AI have opted not to open-source some of their latest artificial intelligence models as they look to capture the full value of their usage through official revenue generating channels. While none of the companies have said that they are moving away from their open-source strategies, the development reflects an industry trend where the most powerful models are growing in size, making them increasingly difficult to host on local hardware. This... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348844/chinese-ai-giants-pivot-toward-proprietary-models-drive-revenue-performance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348844/chinese-ai-giants-pivot-toward-proprietary-models-drive-revenue-performance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:07:42 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Less than a year after US artificial intelligence start-up Anthropic called out China as an “adversarial nation” and vowed to restrict the country’s access to its technologies, the company inadvertently released coding secrets, triggering a frenzy among Chinese developers. The leak occured after an Anthropic employee accidentally included the modified source code of Claude Code, the company’s sensational AI coding tool popular among developers worldwide, in a file within a software package... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3348817/anthropics-ai-code-leak-ignites-frenzy-among-chinese-developers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3348817/anthropics-ai-code-leak-ignites-frenzy-among-chinese-developers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:00:17 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao OpenClaw, the open-source autonomous artificial intelligence agent, is stepping up efforts to tap into China’s user base as it works more closely with Chinese tech giants including Tencent Holdings and ByteDance. A version update of OpenClaw released on Tuesday included Tencent’s QQ, making the long-standing messaging app the first Chinese social media platform to be natively integrated with OpenClaw’s official platform. QQ bot, a versatile bridging service that connects the popular messaging... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3348829/openclaw-deepens-china-footprint-through-native-tencent-bytedance-integrations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3348829/openclaw-deepens-china-footprint-through-native-tencent-bytedance-integrations?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:11:13 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat As global supply volatility intensifies, Premier Li Qiang has called for faster development of a “new-type power system” to accelerate the green transition and expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the sector. During a three-day visit to the southwestern province of Sichuan, Li stressed the need to expand green electricity supply and optimise the energy mix to bolster security and support economic growth. He urged market players to explore new grid architectures, improve system-wide... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348764/premier-li-qiang-pushes-ai-powered-next-gen-energy-system-amid-global-shocks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348764/premier-li-qiang-pushes-ai-powered-next-gen-energy-system-amid-global-shocks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 06:10:42 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Chinese artificial intelligence start-ups Zhipu AI and MiniMax have shown early signs of sustainable commercialisation of their AI models, analysts said, as investors continue to pump up their Hong Kong stocks despite widening losses. That assessment comes as the companies reported their first earnings since their respective initial public offerings in early January, providing a glimpse into the business models of an industry still in its infancy globally. The South China Morning Post takes a... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3348699/what-zhipu-and-minimaxs-first-post-ipo-earnings-say-about-2-chinese-ai-start-ups?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3348699/what-zhipu-and-minimaxs-first-post-ipo-earnings-say-about-2-chinese-ai-start-ups?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao China’s third-largest chip foundry, Nexchip Semiconductor, filed for a Hong Kong listing on Tuesday as domestic wafer fabs race to expand production capacity amid surging artificial intelligence demand and Beijing’s push for greater chip self-sufficiency. Nexchip, a smaller rival to SMIC and Hua Hong Semiconductor, is seeking a dual listing in Shanghai and Hong Kong, signalling the state-backed foundry’s latest effort to strengthen its position in China’s mature-node chipmaking sector. The move... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348687/chinas-nexchip-files-hong-kong-listing-chip-expansion-race-heats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348687/chinas-nexchip-files-hong-kong-listing-chip-expansion-race-heats?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:00:12 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Shares of Hong Kong-listed UBTech jumped after the robotics firm reported a surge in 2025 revenue, driven by an explosive 23-fold rise in humanoid robot sales as China’s robotics sector moves into large-scale production. Revenue from full-size embodied intelligent humanoid robots and related services reached 820 million yuan (US$119 million) last year, making it UBTech’s largest business line. That marked a 2,203 per cent increase from a low base of 35.6 million yuan in 2024, according to... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348635/ubtech-surges-leaps-and-bounds-humanoid-robot-sales-jump-23-fold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348635/ubtech-surges-leaps-and-bounds-humanoid-robot-sales-jump-23-fold?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 06:59:28 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday that they would target leading US technology firms like Apple, Google and Meta if more Iranian leaders were killed in “targeted assassinations”. “These companies, starting from 8pm Tehran time on Wednesday, April 1, should expect the destruction of their relevant units in exchange for every assassination in Iran,” the Guards said in a statement listing the names of 18 companies it alleged were complicit in the killing of officials. “We advise the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348585/iran-says-will-target-apple-google-and-meta-if-more-its-leaders-are-killed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348585/iran-says-will-target-apple-google-and-meta-if-more-its-leaders-are-killed?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:23:28 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Huawei Technologies maintained “steady” recovery momentum in 2025, with its profit rising 8.6 per cent, as the Chinese telecommunications gear maker doubled down on chip development and smartphones in defiance of US sanctions. Net profit came in at 68 billion yuan (US$9.8 billion) last year, compared with 62.6 billion yuan a year earlier, according to the Shenzhen-based company’s annual report released on Tuesday. Total revenue in 2025 reached 880.9 billion yuan, up 2.2 per cent from 862.1... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348558/huaweis-profit-rises-86-2025-overall-performance-remains-steady?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348558/huaweis-profit-rises-86-2025-overall-performance-remains-steady?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:00:10 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu China’s southern tech hub Shenzhen began operations of the country’s first 10,000-card intelligent computing cluster, built with advanced chips made by Huawei Technologies, in the latest sign of how the country is deepening its push for home-grown computing capabilities. Featuring a computing capacity of 11,000 petaflops, the new cluster, activated last week, is the country’s first 10,000-card intelligent computing cluster built with Huawei’s Ascend 910C AI chips, according to Shenzhen Special... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348502/shenzhen-activates-chinas-first-10000-card-ai-cluster-domestic-chips?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348502/shenzhen-activates-chinas-first-10000-card-ai-cluster-domestic-chips?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Chinese artificial intelligence company Zhipu AI posted worse-than-expected annual revenue growth in its first earnings report since its initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong in January. Revenue rose 131.9 per cent year on year to 724.33 million yuan (US$104.8 million) for the year ended December 2025, the Beijing-based company said on Tuesday, lagging an estimate of 756 million yuan by analysts polled by Bloomberg. Zhipu, the first foundational AI model start-up in the world to launch an... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3348555/zhipu-ai-revenue-jumps-132-first-post-ipo-report-missing-estimates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3348555/zhipu-ai-revenue-jumps-132-first-post-ipo-report-missing-estimates?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:36:26 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Apple’s accidental roll-out on Tuesday of its highly anticipated Apple Intelligence feature in mainland China – which has yet to receive regulatory approval – before swiftly pulling it could raise the ire of regulators and expose the US tech giant to potential penalties, an industry expert warned. The brief release could have violated local rules on artificial intelligence security evaluations, algorithm filings and data protection, according to You Yunting, a Shanghai-based intellectual... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348527/apples-accidental-ai-feature-roll-out-china-risks-regulatory-backlash-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348527/apples-accidental-ai-feature-roll-out-china-risks-regulatory-backlash-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:00:39 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China is ramping up efforts to deeply integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its shipping industry by 2027, targeting breakthroughs in core technologies to build a smart maritime system as global competition intensifies. A new action plan by the Ministry of Transport and three other government bodies outlined a road map that includes creating at least three comprehensive pilot zones, launching more than five trial routes, developing over 10 replicable smart-shipping use cases and deploying... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348531/china-plans-ai-powered-smart-shipping-system-2027?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348531/china-plans-ai-powered-smart-shipping-system-2027?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:09:50 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Chinese tech giants Xiaomi and Alibaba Group Holding have launched spring recruitment drives amid fierce competition for the talent driving the global artificial intelligence boom. The campaigns come as the smartphone and e-commerce giants, respectively, look to increasingly position themselves as AI-first firms, amid growing commercial pressures in their traditional businesses. In a Weibo post on Monday, Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun said the company’s global recruitment campaign would target... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348434/xiaomi-alibaba-ramp-ai-recruitment-amid-global-talent-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348434/xiaomi-alibaba-ramp-ai-recruitment-amid-global-talent-war?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:00:14 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Manycore Tech, a Hangzhou-based developer of spatial design software, has passed its listing hearing in Hong Kong, moving a step closer to an initial public offering (IPO) as it pushes deeper into what it calls “spatial intelligence” – the integration of artificial intelligence with the physical world. The company is one of Hangzhou’s “Six Little Dragons” – a group of rising start-ups that includes AI developer DeepSeek, robotics firms Unitree Robotics and Deep Robotics, Black Myth creator Game... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348377/firing-manycore-first-hangzhous-six-little-dragons-near-hong-kong-ipo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348377/firing-manycore-first-hangzhous-six-little-dragons-near-hong-kong-ipo?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Chinese artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek suffered a prolonged outage overnight that extended into early Monday morning, disrupting service for hundreds of millions of users, according to a company notice and user feedback. The Hangzhou-based AI lab’s namesake chatbot website and app were offline from Sunday evening, with the company continuing to investigate while issuing fixes from between 1am and 9am on Monday, according to service maintenance records the company published online. The... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348345/deepseek-outage-leaves-millions-cut-and-sparks-complaints-rivals-gain-ground?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348345/deepseek-outage-leaves-millions-cut-and-sparks-complaints-rivals-gain-ground?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 03:41:43 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Heavy users of artificial intelligence have reported being overwhelmed by trying to keep up with and on top of the technology designed to make their lives easier. Too many lines of code to analyse, armies of AI assistants to wrangle and lengthy prompts to draft are among the laments by hard-core AI adopters. Consultants at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) have dubbed the phenomenon “AI brain fry”, a state of mental exhaustion stemming “from the excessive use or supervision of artificial... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348344/heavy-ai-users-report-mental-burnout-babysitting-models?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348344/heavy-ai-users-report-mental-burnout-babysitting-models?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 03:22:07 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Yuanjie Semiconductor Technology, a Chinese maker of laser chips for optical communications, has emerged as one of the mainland exchanges’ biggest beneficiaries of the artificial intelligence infrastructure boom – with its shares rising nearly ninefold over the past year as it pursues a Hong Kong listing. The Shaanxi-based integrated device manufacturer, whose shares closed at 1,100 yuan on Friday, now ranks second by share price among mainland-listed companies, trailing only Kweichow Moutai at... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348311/what-makes-yuanjie-chinese-optical-chip-star-and-hong-kong-ipo-candidate-stand-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348311/what-makes-yuanjie-chinese-optical-chip-star-and-hong-kong-ipo-candidate-stand-out?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:00:06 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu A planned supercomputing hub in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis could overtake the MTR Corporation rail operator as the city’s single largest electricity consumer, prompting a green group and experts to call for setting energy efficiency standards to limit the sector’s carbon emissions. According to The Green Earth’s estimates, the new project – set to begin operating in 2029 – could increase the industry’s annual carbon emissions by about 70 per cent compared with current levels. Experts have... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348294/northern-metropolis-data-hub-may-surpass-mtr-corp-hong-kongs-top-power-consumer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348294/northern-metropolis-data-hub-may-surpass-mtr-corp-hong-kongs-top-power-consumer?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen A string of Chinese analogue chipmakers have announced price increases in step with their international peers, as a broader pricing wave sweeps across the semiconductor supply chain – a shift that analysts say could hand China’s mature-node producers a rare window to gain ground. Novosense Microelectronics, SG Micro, Fortior Technology, Halo Microelectronics, Silan Micro and Kiwi Instruments are among the domestic firms recently raising prices, in line with global leaders including Texas... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348284/chinese-analogue-chipmakers-join-wave-global-price-rises-mature-node-firms-eye-gains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348284/chinese-analogue-chipmakers-join-wave-global-price-rises-mature-node-firms-eye-gains?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow ByteDance has bolstered its controversial video-generation model Seedance 2.0 with “advanced” watermarking and intellectual property (IP) protection guardrails ahead of its global roll-out, the TikTok owner has said. The much-anticipated international release comes amid intense scrutiny from Hollywood studios over alleged IP theft after numerous Seedance-generated videos featuring famous Hollywood actors and characters went viral in February. On Wednesday, ByteDance said its global safety and... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348290/bytedance-bolsters-seedance-20-watermarking-ip-safeguards-ahead-global-roll-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348290/bytedance-bolsters-seedance-20-watermarking-ip-safeguards-ahead-global-roll-out?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 09:00:13 +0000 Ke Meng Ke Meng In January, a top Chinese AI researcher told an industry summit in Beijing there was less than a 20 per cent chance of any Chinese company surpassing a leading US artificial intelligence firm in the next three to five years. The remark by Lin Junyang, until recently a technical leader working on Qwen, one of China’s most capable open-source AI models under Alibaba (which owns the South China Morning Post), made headlines. But much of the commentary missed a more important question Lin posed:... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347763/how-assess-chinas-real-chance-winning-ai-race-against-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347763/how-assess-chinas-real-chance-winning-ai-race-against-us?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 08:30:09 +0000 Elina Noor Elina Noor On March 1, after Israel and the United States initiated attacks against Iran, Amazon Web Services reported drone strikes against data centre facilities in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The strikes caused structural damage to the company’s infrastructure, impairing cloud services for those countries. Iran warned that US tech companies with Israeli links, including Google, Microsoft, Palantir, Nvidia and Oracle, were on Tehran’s list of “legitimate targets” for countermeasures. Strikes on... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3347725/ai-infrastructure-front-line-lessons-asean-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3347725/ai-infrastructure-front-line-lessons-asean-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 21:30:10 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Alibaba Group Holding is set to launch a new service that provides AI agents for millions of merchants on its Taobao and Tmall platforms, as the tech giant capitalises on the recent frenzy fuelled by OpenClaw to secure its lead in e-commerce. The new feature, slated for release by the end of March, will provide agentic AI services based on its merchant tool Business Advisor, aiming to give them a 24/7 autonomous “digital workforce” that can automate operation processes including offering... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348237/alibaba-deploy-ai-digital-workforce-millions-merchants-taobao-tmall?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348237/alibaba-deploy-ai-digital-workforce-millions-merchants-taobao-tmall?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 13:00:29 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang The threat to employment posed by artificial intelligence was not a “robot apocalypse” that would steal jobs, but “algorithmic collusion” that could quietly erode wages and workplace safety, Ekkehard Ernst, the International Labour Organization’s chief macroeconomist, warned in Beijing on Tuesday. While public anxiety frequently centred on the potential for AI to trigger a mass wave of unemployment, Ernst said its disruptive potential had been overestimated. “I don’t think that we are anywhere... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348124/ai-collusion-forcing-down-wages-bigger-threat-job-stealing-robots-ilo-economist?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348124/ai-collusion-forcing-down-wages-bigger-threat-job-stealing-robots-ilo-economist?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 11:00:10 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Artificial intelligence chatbots are so prone to flattering and validating their human users that they are giving bad advice that can damage relationships and reinforce harmful behaviours, according to a new study. The study, published on March 26 in the journal Science, tested 11 leading AI systems and found they all showed varying degrees of sycophancy – behaviour that was too agreeable and affirming. The problem is not just that they dispense inappropriate advice but that people trust and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3348145/sycophantic-ai-chatbots-are-trying-so-hard-please-humans-they-often-give-bad-advice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3348145/sycophantic-ai-chatbots-are-trying-so-hard-please-humans-they-often-give-bad-advice?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 10:15:08 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Construction has begun on a major data centre in the Northern Metropolis, with Hong Kong’s innovation and technology minister saying the project will supercharge the city’s computing power and drive the national artificial intelligence (AI) push. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Saturday at the Range (Hong Kong) Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster, which spans more than 110,000 square metres. Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said the project marked a leap forward in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348246/hong-kong-breaks-ground-northern-metropolis-data-centre-power-ai-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348246/hong-kong-breaks-ground-northern-metropolis-data-centre-power-ai-push?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 09:04:10 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Southeast Asian countries are racing to assert control over their data flows, driven by a potent mix of nationalist sentiment and security anxieties. But analysts warn that while certain measures may deliver domestic economic benefits, the broader push risks undermining innovation, deterring foreign investment and even cutting the region off from the global digital economy. On March 1, Vietnam became the first Southeast Asian nation to have in force a comprehensive law on artificial... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348187/vietnam-leads-ai-rules-southeast-asia-risks-economic-own-goal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348187/vietnam-leads-ai-rules-southeast-asia-risks-economic-own-goal?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 04:30:08 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu After Hong Kong photographer Jacky Lau Kin-sang upgraded his camera systems a few months ago, he was shocked to find professional, high-capacity SD memory cards for the set-up cost up to HK$3,000 (US$383) each, three times more than expected. But the real shocker for the 42-year-old was that the price of the hard disks he had been purchasing for years to back up his clients’ images also skyrocketed from HK$1,880 to HK$3,880 for a model with a capacity of 16 terabytes (TB). “It means you... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348225/why-sd-cards-and-hard-drives-are-new-digital-gold-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348225/why-sd-cards-and-hard-drives-are-new-digital-gold-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 04:00:36 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Investment opportunities in cutting-edge technologies are increasingly concentrated in mainland China and Hong Kong, according to Clara Chan Ka-chai, CEO of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC). As the Hong Kong government’s investment arm, the HKIC aimed to play a stronger role in attracting capital into high-potential projects and scaling investments through broader funding participation, Chan said during a panel session at the Boao Forum for Asia on Friday. Founded in 2022, the HKIC... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3348227/hkic-chief-sees-growing-opportunities-cutting-edge-tech-across-china-and-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3348227/hkic-chief-sees-growing-opportunities-cutting-edge-tech-across-china-and-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 03:29:52 +0000 Denise Tsang Denise Tsang The deployment of mainland China-made rail equipment and technologies by Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation can provide a “showcase” for their applications overseas, a top representative of manufacturing giant CRRC has said. Jin Guozhong, chief engineer of the CRRC Qishuyan Institute, the Chinese state-owned manufacturer’s research and development centre in Changzhou, said on Friday there was a synergy between the two rail firms that went beyond equipment deployment. The semi-privatised MTR Corp had... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348210/mtr-corps-use-crrc-technology-can-act-showcase-rest-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348210/mtr-corps-use-crrc-technology-can-act-showcase-rest-world?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 01:00:16 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow The organisers of a leading artificial intelligence conference have apologised after a new policy that appeared to bar US-sanctioned entities from participating sparked a backlash in China, saying the ban was more limited than initially indicated. The apology came after several major Chinese professional bodies urged domestic researchers to boycott the event, amid concerns that prominent tech groups such as Huawei Technologies would be excluded. In a statement on Friday, the Conference on Neural... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348199/top-us-ai-conference-apologises-after-sanctions-policy-sparks-backlash-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348199/top-us-ai-conference-apologises-after-sanctions-policy-sparks-backlash-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:34:14 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang The recent nationwide frenzy to adopt OpenClaw, an open-source artificial intelligence agent, has pushed token use to new levels and given fresh momentum to China’s booming AI sector, according to industry experts at a state-backed conference on Friday. “Since late January token consumption [on my company’s platform] has been doubling every two weeks, and by now it has increased roughly tenfold,” said Xia Lixue, co-founder and CEO at Infinigence, a Beijing-based AI computing service provider,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348147/openclaw-effect-explosion-ai-token-use-adds-fuel-chinese-ai-development?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348147/openclaw-effect-explosion-ai-token-use-adds-fuel-chinese-ai-development?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:30:16 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu An 84-year-old woman fell in love with an artificial-intelligence (AI) generated human, wrote ‘him’ love letters and spent 10 hours a day watching virtual human videos. Her story reflects the needs elderly people have for love and care. Zhang Yulan, from central China’s Hubei province, was discovered by her family to have been obsessed with a ‘bossy president’ generated by AI. The ‘bossy president’, or ba zong in Chinese, is a term used to describe a popular kind of male character in romantic... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3347699/china-grandma-falls-love-bossy-president-writes-him-love-letters-buys-his-shop?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3347699/china-grandma-falls-love-bossy-president-writes-him-love-letters-buys-his-shop?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 06:00:07 +0000 Jeffie Lam Jeffie Lam Tech giant Google has introduced a mobile version of its Gemini AI chatbot to Hong Kong users, with the service swiftly topping Apple’s app store chart. The roll-out on Thursday followed Google’s announcement last week that it would gradually bring its generative AI services to Hong Kong, starting with Gemini web services before launching a mobile version. The popular AI product was previously unavailable to the general public in Hong Kong, with access limited to some local businesses,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348076/googles-gemini-ai-app-debuts-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348076/googles-gemini-ai-app-debuts-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:45:47 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) launched an action plan to enhance its current businesses and seek new growth in 2026, as the largest contract chipmaker in China aims to solidify its role as the backbone of the country’s self-sufficiency drive. Released alongside its annual report for 2025, the plan outlined a commitment to “optimising existing stock and digging for new increments”, the company said in a stock exchange filing on Thursday. The company said two trends would... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348044/chinas-top-chip-foundry-smic-unveils-action-plan-seizing-new-growth-opportunities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348044/chinas-top-chip-foundry-smic-unveils-action-plan-seizing-new-growth-opportunities?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:00:08 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) is lagging behind China’s national average in basic research, despite showing strong potential in sectors such as semiconductors and smart manufacturing, according to Deloitte. The cluster of cities in southern China, which included Shenzhen, spent about 28.9 billion yuan (US$4.2 billion) on basic research in 2024, accounting for just 5.67 per cent of total spending in research and development (R&D), the consulting firm said in a report... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3347992/greater-bay-area-trails-peers-basic-research-despite-strong-tech-potential-deloitte?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3347992/greater-bay-area-trails-peers-basic-research-despite-strong-tech-potential-deloitte?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:00:08 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow A new artificial intelligence algorithm developed by Google that could reduce demand for memory chips triggered a slump in global memory stocks, but analysts said it presented an opportunity for investors to “buy the dip”. Shares in memory giants including Samsung and SK Hynix fell after Google said in a blog post on Tuesday that the algorithm, called TurboQuant, reduced the memory demands of key-value (KV) caches – a crucial component of how AI models are served to users – by six times through... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348038/googles-turboquant-ai-advance-dents-memory-chip-stocks-analysts-say-buy-dip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348038/googles-turboquant-ai-advance-dents-memory-chip-stocks-analysts-say-buy-dip?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:24:11 +0000 Andy Xie Andy Xie The Iran war’s oil shock has dramatically increased the security risk for oil-dependent countries, incentivising a turn towards renewable energy. This impact will outlast the war and oil price spikes because the world knows this war will recur. China will be the biggest beneficiary and its exports are likely to do very well this year, offsetting losses from buying higher-priced oil. A fifth of the global supply of oil and liquefied natural gas plus a third of seaborne fertilisers traditionally... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347634/oil-shocked-world-turns-renewables-china-will-reap-rewards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347634/oil-shocked-world-turns-renewables-china-will-reap-rewards?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:30:07 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Chinese computer scientists and researchers have been urged to boycott a major artificial intelligence conference after its organisers barred submissions from US-sanctioned institutions, including leading Chinese tech groups such as Huawei Technologies. The move by the China Computer Federation (CCF) is the latest flashpoint in deepening US-China tensions over AI, a fast-evolving field with far-reaching economic, social and military implications. The influential professional body said on... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348006/ai-rift-widens-china-urges-boycott-top-us-conference-over-sanctions-ban?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348006/ai-rift-widens-china-urges-boycott-top-us-conference-over-sanctions-ban?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:00:12 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese self-driving technology firm Pony AI plans to launch robotaxi services with partners Uber Technologies and Verne in Zagreb, Croatia, spearheading commercialisation of autonomous cabs in Europe amid an accelerated go-global drive. The three companies aimed to operate a fleet of thousands of robotaxis in various European cities over the next few years after achieving consistent performance and safety, Guangzhou-based Pony said on Thursday. Neither the starting date for the service nor the... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348026/chinas-pony-ai-launch-robotaxi-service-europe-uber-local-start?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348026/chinas-pony-ai-launch-robotaxi-service-europe-uber-local-start?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:31:20 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi Chinese government advisers are calling for government-set “red lines” in artificial intelligence development and applications, as mounting threats of job displacement and data security challenges spark concerns in the country. Jiang Xiaojuan, former deputy secretary general of the State Council, said at the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference in Hainan province that precaution was needed when using AI simply to reduce labour costs. “Those that do not improve service quality or promote... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347940/job-fears-security-risks-spark-call-chinese-government-red-lines-ai-applications?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347940/job-fears-security-risks-spark-call-chinese-government-red-lines-ai-applications?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Shares of Chinese short-video platform Kuaishou fell more than 13 per cent to HK$45.96 by midday in Hong Kong on Thursday, a day after reporting strong sales growth, as analysts warned that its core advertising and live-streaming businesses could face mounting pressure this year. The sharp decline reflected investor concerns over a cautious growth outlook for the Beijing-based firm, compounded by its heavy spending on artificial intelligence, according to Zhang Xueru, an analyst at investment... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347951/chinas-kuaishou-slumps-analysts-flag-growth-pressure-despite-strong-results?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347951/chinas-kuaishou-slumps-analysts-flag-growth-pressure-despite-strong-results?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 05:28:50 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow A “ChatGPT moment” for China’s humanoid robots – the tipping point at which the technology becomes widely usable – remains years away as persistent challenges in adapting to new tasks and training efficiency continue to hold back the industry, leading experts said on Wednesday at the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan. Despite rapid advances in recent years, humanoid robots were still far from large-scale deployment, with both hardware and software limitations yet to be fully resolved, panellists... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347864/why-chinas-humanoid-robots-are-still-waiting-their-chatgpt-moment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347864/why-chinas-humanoid-robots-are-still-waiting-their-chatgpt-moment?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 01:15:07 +0000