https://www.scmp.com/rss/33091/feed Headquartered in Shenzhen, Tencent is one of China's and the world's largest internet services companies, with interests in media, entertainment, web and mobile communications, advertising, e-commerce and internet banking. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Daniel Ren Daniel Ren The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), a special economic zone in the Kazakhstan capital, is in discussions with Hong Kong and Shanghai’s equity exchanges about the creation of stock connection schemes, most likely starting with exchange-traded funds (ETFs), to widen investors’ access to each other’s markets. According to AIFC’s governor Renat Bekturov, Kazakh investors’ interest in Chinese companies, from hi-tech behemoths to carmakers, was growing, inspiring organisations in both... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3352276/kazakhstans-aifc-discussing-stock-trading-links-shanghai-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3352276/kazakhstans-aifc-discussing-stock-trading-links-shanghai-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee Vigloo, a South Korean micro drama production company, has gone all-in on artificial intelligence this year, betting that automation can fundamentally reshape how content is made. The company has begun spending roughly 30 per cent of its budget on AI-driven workflows, and the change is already having a dramatic impact. It can now produce a show in just one month rather than three, and at one-fifth of the cost. That is not only allowing Vigloo to release far more shows, but also to experiment... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352019/how-china-using-ai-and-state-funding-transform-micro-drama-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352019/how-china-using-ai-and-state-funding-transform-micro-drama-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:12 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Artificial intelligence investments by US tech giants continue to soar, dwarfing those of Chinese AI firms, but China’s rising appetite for AI applications will compel its tech companies to increase their AI spending this year, according to analysts. The largest US tech companies are on track for more than US$700 billion in AI capital expenditures this year, driven in part by rising memory costs and continuously growing demand for AI applications. Google and Microsoft on Thursday both said that... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3352068/chinese-firms-face-pressure-ai-investments-us-peers-spending-keeps-soaring?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3352068/chinese-firms-face-pressure-ai-investments-us-peers-spending-keeps-soaring?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:30:09 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng China’s home-grown software and operating systems like Huawei Technologies’ HarmonyOS are gaining traction, according to an official of China’s technology ministry, as the country accelerates its push to cut reliance on foreign technology. More than 55 million smartphones ran on the HarmonyOS mobile platform as of the end of March, according to Ke Jixin, vice-minister of industry and information technology. “Domestic software like operating systems and databases has been improving steadily,” Ke... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351837/huaweis-harmonyos-more-55m-phones-china-steps-push-domestic-software?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351837/huaweis-harmonyos-more-55m-phones-china-steps-push-domestic-software?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:30:07 +0000 Coco Feng,Wency Chen,Vincent Chow Coco Feng,Wency Chen,Vincent Chow It could be “time-consuming”, “complex” and “difficult” for Meta Platforms to unwind its acquisition of Manus, an artificial intelligence start-up that originated in China, given how far the deal has gone, according to analysts. Beijing’s order on Monday blocking the US$2 billion deal came roughly four months after the acquisition was announced. During that time, Manus – developer of what it described as the world’s first general AI agent – provided Meta employees with unlimited-usage accounts,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351718/meta-manus-ai-deal-difficult-undo-how-will-beijing-exert-its-authority?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351718/meta-manus-ai-deal-difficult-undo-how-will-beijing-exert-its-authority?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:30:09 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi China’s recycling platform Zhuanzhuan is preparing to expand into Europe and the US by the end of the year, betting that demand for second-hand goods will continue to rise amid economic uncertainty despite geopolitical tensions. Backed by tech giants Tencent Holdings and Xiaomi, the Beijing-based company plans to export its model – which combines advanced quality inspection technology with door-to-door services – to get a slice of overseas markets. A dedicated international website was expected... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351394/turning-cast-offs-cash-chinas-zhuanzhuan-looks-europe-and-us-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351394/turning-cast-offs-cash-chinas-zhuanzhuan-looks-europe-and-us-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 01:00:32 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng OpenClaw has adopted DeepSeek’s new V4 Flash as the default model for the popular artificial intelligence agent, while the global tech community scrutinises the implications of the Chinese AI firm’s major update optimised to run on Huawei Technologies’ chips. In an update on Sunday, OpenClaw said it had expanded its catalogue to include DeepSeek’s V4 Flash and its flagship V4 Pro models, and had integrated other capabilities such as Google Meet into the agent. OpenClaw also optimised how... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351471/openclaw-adds-deepseek-v4-models-tech-world-assesses-huawei-tie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351471/openclaw-adds-deepseek-v4-models-tech-world-assesses-huawei-tie?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:24:39 +0000 Lizzi C. Lee Lizzi C. Lee The idea of a token economy is gaining traction. The concept is still nascent, loosely defined and easy to dismiss as just another piece of artificial intelligence jargon. It is no surprise Chinese policymakers are quick to jump on the bandwagon. But in the Chinese context, there is a more concrete policy logic that deserves attention. It reflects an emerging attempt to reframe how energy, infrastructure and digital services interact, and in doing so, how China positions itself in the next phase... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3350766/chinas-ai-token-drive-really-about-upgrading-inland-economies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3350766/chinas-ai-token-drive-really-about-upgrading-inland-economies?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Vincent Chow,Wency Chen Vincent Chow,Wency Chen Huawei Technologies’ newest Ascend 950PR and 950DT chips enjoyed “day zero” adaptation to DeepSeek’s latest V4 model, the Shenzhen-based tech giant said in a livestream on Friday, just hours after the model’s release. The hardware-software collaboration between the two Chinese firms underscores the progress China has made in tech self-reliance, a top national priority for Beijing amid US efforts to block its access to advanced semiconductor chips and chipmaking equipment. During the livestream... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3351349/huawei-deepseek-strengthen-chinas-ai-self-reliance-collaboration-v4-model?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3351349/huawei-deepseek-strengthen-chinas-ai-self-reliance-collaboration-v4-model?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:30:08 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Chinese chipmakers rallied on Friday while artificial intelligence application firms retreated, as investors rotated into semiconductor stocks on expectations of stronger demand for computing power following a new model release by start-up DeepSeek. Shares of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp rose 10 per cent by the close in Hong Kong, while Hua Hong Semiconductor surged 15 per cent, extending a broader rally among mainland chipmakers. In contrast, several AI application developers... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351328/investors-rotate-chinas-chipmakers-deepseek-intensifies-ai-competition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351328/investors-rotate-chinas-chipmakers-deepseek-intensifies-ai-competition?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:03:43 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang China’s top market regulator will launch a six-month crackdown on the country’s internet advertising sector, targeting malpractices including the misuse of artificial intelligence, in what it described as its first campaign to clean up the broader online advertising ecosystem. The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said on Thursday that the campaign comes as new risks – from AI misuse to traffic-driven marketing tactics – emerge alongside long-standing issues, even as data and... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351202/beijing-moves-clean-online-ad-ecosystem-first-its-kind-campaign?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351202/beijing-moves-clean-online-ad-ecosystem-first-its-kind-campaign?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:03:24 +0000 Vincent Chow,Ben Jiang Vincent Chow,Ben Jiang Tencent Holdings has released a new flagship artificial intelligence model, the first since former OpenAI researcher Yao Shunyu joined the Chinese tech giant to lead its foundational AI development efforts. The Shenzhen-based company said on Thursday that the new model, an open-source program called “Hy3 preview”, was its most powerful yet, on par with top Chinese models but still lagging flagship products from US leaders such as OpenAI and Google DeepMind. Notably, the model is relatively small... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3351101/tencent-unveils-first-flagship-ai-model-former-openai-researcher-helm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3351101/tencent-unveils-first-flagship-ai-model-former-openai-researcher-helm?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 06:05:17 +0000 Minxiao Chang Minxiao Chang Chinese artificial intelligence start-up Moonshot AI has released its latest open-source flagship model, Kimi K2.6, as domestic tech giants including Alibaba, ByteDance and Tencent issued a consensus to promote open source, even as some continue to invest in closed systems. The move highlights the varied business strategies of Chinese AI companies, as differences in growth and maturity shape their commitment to open source. Unveiled on Monday, Kimi K2.6 brings upgrades in long-horizon coding,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350887/moonshot-ai-releases-flagship-model-open-source-push-continues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350887/moonshot-ai-releases-flagship-model-open-source-push-continues?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:00:12 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Twenty-two strategic enterprises have signed agreements with the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) to open or expand operations in Hong Kong. The latest group marks the sixth cohort under the government’s flagship investment attraction initiative since its launch in 2022, bringing the total number of strategic partners to more than 120. The South China Morning Post looks at who the latest companies are and the anticipated economic impact. 1. Who are the corporations? Pfizer, a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350780/which-global-firms-are-being-attracted-hong-kongs-strategic-enterprise-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350780/which-global-firms-are-being-attracted-hong-kongs-strategic-enterprise-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 01:30:31 +0000 Oscar Liu,Olga Wong,Vivian Au Oscar Liu,Olga Wong,Vivian Au Global drug maker Pfizer and biotech firm Amgen, each valued at more than HK$1 trillion (US$153 billion), are among 22 strategic enterprises from the fintech, cloud computing and aerial transport sectors to open or expand offices in Hong Kong. The firms attended a ceremony on Monday to sign agreements with the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES). It marked the sixth cohort under the government’s flagship investment initiative since its launch, as the South China Morning Post... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350693/pfizer-amgen-among-22-strategic-firms-eyeing-hong-kong-expansion-source?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350693/pfizer-amgen-among-22-strategic-firms-eyeing-hong-kong-expansion-source?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 06:58:40 +0000 Minxiao Chang Minxiao Chang As China’s artificial intelligence sector accelerates, competition for top talent has intensified among major tech companies, with firms increasingly poaching from rivals while also attracting researchers from overseas hubs such as Silicon Valley. A reported high-profile personnel move involving DeepSeek researcher Guo Daya recently drew attention to the sensitivity surrounding AI hiring in China’s tech sector. Guo, a lead researcher on DeepSeek’s R1 model, joined ByteDance’s Seed AI development... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350521/bytedance-tencent-step-ai-talent-battle-amid-reported-departure-deepseek-researcher?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350521/bytedance-tencent-step-ai-talent-battle-amid-reported-departure-deepseek-researcher?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 01:00:32 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow In China’s hyper-competitive and lucrative tech industry, releasing cutting-edge artificial intelligence models for free may seem counter-intuitive – but it has become a core business strategy. At the University of Hong Kong last November, Alibaba Group Holding chairman Joe Tsai was asked why the tech giant open-sourced its AI models. Addressing a room full of students, Tsai said he believed open-source AI would bring global benefits by lowering costs, making it a natural fit for talent- and... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3350340/chinas-ai-firms-scaled-open-source-models-next-phase-may-be-different?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3350340/chinas-ai-firms-scaled-open-source-models-next-phase-may-be-different?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 01:00:17 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang A wave of companies, from the start-up launched by artificial intelligence “godmother” Li Fei-Fei to the largest Chinese tech firms, are racing to introduce their latest approaches to world models – an emerging field aimed at extending AI beyond language processing to learning from and comprehending physical reality. Alibaba Group Holding on Thursday unveiled Happy Oyster, which it called an open-ended world model designed for real-time and “flowy” virtual world creation and interaction,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350351/chinese-tech-giants-ai-godmother-li-fei-fei-race-seize-edge-world-models?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350351/chinese-tech-giants-ai-godmother-li-fei-fei-race-seize-edge-world-models?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:00:14 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Billionaire Elon Musk seems to have embraced TikTok, the world’s most popular short video site, more than two years after he said he stopped using the platform, as he felt its artificial intelligence algorithm was “probing” his mind. A verified @elonmusk handle recently posted a video on the site run by China’s ByteDance, signalling a truce – or perhaps a strategic surrender – to the platform’s massive global reach. The account features the same profile picture as Musk’s account on X, the social... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3350003/probing-minds-verified-account-how-elon-musks-stance-tiktok-shifted?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3350003/probing-minds-verified-account-how-elon-musks-stance-tiktok-shifted?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Minxiao Chang Minxiao Chang Silicon photonic computing chips – long overlooked in the artificial intelligence hardware stack – are emerging as a new focal point in mainland China’s semiconductor push, as domestic companies move towards public listings amid intensifying US-China competition and surging demand for next-generation computing infrastructure. Shanghai-based Lightelligence, the first company globally to achieve large-scale deployment of hybrid optical-electronic computing, passed its Hong Kong listing hearing on... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350183/lightelligence-track-ipo-plans-chinas-ai-photonics-race-gathers-pace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350183/lightelligence-track-ipo-plans-chinas-ai-photonics-race-gathers-pace?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:00:31 +0000 Minxiao Chang Minxiao Chang China’s world models are benefiting from early integration with the country’s strong industrial base, which gives the domestic ecosystem greater momentum than that of the US, according to an executive at a leading Chinese world model start-up. World models simulate 3D environments and physical dynamics, and are expected to help train the next generation of physical artificial intelligence applications, including robots and autonomous vehicles. Wang Xiaofeng, an algorithm partner at GigaAI, said... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350062/chinas-edge-over-us-ai-world-models-abundant-data-faster-deployment-executive-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350062/chinas-edge-over-us-ai-world-models-abundant-data-faster-deployment-executive-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:00:10 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang As the new Communist Party chief of China’s southern manufacturing hub Shenzhen, Jin Lei is facing his first major test as the city prepares to host the Apec leaders’ summit in November. Beijing is seeking more cooperation with the bloc in areas like artificial intelligence, and the key regional forum is an opportunity to show the potential in tech-driven Shenzhen, where Jin took the helm last month. In recent weeks, the 56-year-old economist and former Sichuan official has been focused on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3349869/shenzhens-new-party-boss-has-taken-wheel-can-he-deliver-ahead-apec?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3349869/shenzhens-new-party-boss-has-taken-wheel-can-he-deliver-ahead-apec?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 02:00:10 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng China’s red-chip structure – long used by internet companies to attract foreign capital while navigating domestic restrictions – is facing renewed scrutiny as regulators tighten oversight of offshore listings. The shift is already reshaping the pipeline for Hong Kong initial public offerings (IPOs), with companies increasingly being encouraged to unwind these structures or justify why they remain necessary. This explainer outlines the reasons behind the policy shift, what it means for tech IPOs,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3349735/what-does-chinas-tightening-grip-red-chip-structures-mean-ipos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3349735/what-does-chinas-tightening-grip-red-chip-structures-mean-ipos?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 06:37:35 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Yang Zhilin, founder of fast-rising start-up Moonshot AI, has become the latest artificial intelligence entrepreneur to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang, as Beijing steps up its push to accelerate the digital transformation of manufacturing. The 32-year-old was among a select group of business leaders and experts invited to a high-level symposium on Friday, where participants offered views on China’s economic resilience and future growth drivers. Li acknowledged that the external environment had... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3349707/chinas-li-qiang-urges-faster-industrial-ai-adoption-meeting-moonshot-ai-founder?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3349707/chinas-li-qiang-urges-faster-industrial-ai-adoption-meeting-moonshot-ai-founder?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:30:08 +0000 Minxiao Chang Minxiao Chang Tencent Holdings’ super app WeChat has updated its content governance rules to ban non-human automated publishing, including the use of artificial intelligence and scripts, amid a surge in technologies that can replace human creators. “Official accounts and service accounts must not use AI, scripts, APIs or other automated methods to replace human involvement in content production and distribution,” WeChat said on Thursday via its official platform. The super app, marketed as Weixin on the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3349696/tencent-moves-rein-ai-content-flood-wechat-stricter-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3349696/tencent-moves-rein-ai-content-flood-wechat-stricter-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:31:11 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd, or CATL, plans to buy a 45 per cent stake in the parent of a Shenzhen-listed renewable-energy company, as the world’s biggest maker of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles seeks to expand its investments in green energy amid the global oil shock. CATL signed a framework agreement with two shareholders of Hangzhou Zhonhen Technology Investment on Wednesday, agreeing to pay 4.09 billion yuan (US$598.5 million) for the deal, Hangzhou Zhonhen Electric, the... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349465/catl-buys-45-stake-hangzhou-green-energy-company-us598-million?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349465/catl-buys-45-stake-hangzhou-green-energy-company-us598-million?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:05:49 +0000 Christopher DeWolf Christopher DeWolf Greenery used to be a nice thing to have in an architectural project. Now it’s the star of the show. In many Asian cities, new developments are treating nature as more than just decoration, orienting themselves around green spaces that are at once useful to humans and beneficial to the environment. At least, that’s the idea. Reality is more complicated. Integrating nature and architecture “[is] always a challenge”, says Stephen Buckle, design director of Chinese studios for Aspect, a global... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/article/3349397/rewilding-city-urban-forests-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/article/3349397/rewilding-city-urban-forests-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:17 +0000 Muhammad Faizan Fakhar Muhammad Faizan Fakhar Much Western discourse on artificial intelligence has lately focused on establishing safeguards and installing guardrails against powerful new AI systems, algorithmic bias, the collusion of governments and tech oligarchs, and rising related environmental costs. The growing AI backlash in the West has been labelled a “botlash” in a recent commentary by Stanford University’s Marietje Schaake, who includes anti-AI movements such as “QuitGPT”, “Resist and Unsubscribe” and “Stealing Isn’t... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3349034/danger-global-souths-pursuit-ai-magical-cure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3349034/danger-global-souths-pursuit-ai-magical-cure?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu Traditional corporate culture and hierarchies are slowing down artificial intelligence adoption in Chinese enterprises, leaving them trailing their US peers, even as China’s savvy consumers embrace AI agents at a breakneck pace, says Zack Kass, former head of go-to-market at OpenAI. China has a very “techno-centric consumer”, while the US has a very “techno-centric enterprise”, Kass told the South China Morning Post in a recent interview. Highlighting this contrast, Kass said typical Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348956/chinese-firms-trail-us-peers-ai-adoption-due-corporate-culture-ex-openai-executive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348956/chinese-firms-trail-us-peers-ai-adoption-due-corporate-culture-ex-openai-executive?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Facebook owner Meta Platforms has recruited a Chinese industry veteran with experience across artificial intelligence, humanoid robots and extended reality to lead a new hardware team in its superintelligence unit. Xu Rui, a former product manager at Tencent Holdings and TikTok owner ByteDance, would lead a team developing AI devices separately from Meta’s Reality Labs division, which was responsible for the company’s popular smart glasses and virtual reality headsets, US outlet Business Insider... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3349081/who-xu-rui-ex-bytedance-executive-tapped-meta-lead-ai-hardware?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3349081/who-xu-rui-ex-bytedance-executive-tapped-meta-lead-ai-hardware?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 08:52:22 +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 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 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu More than 40,000 Hong Kong taxi drivers have adopted major electronic payment platforms AlipayHK and WeChat Pay HK, easing a protracted pain point for mainland Chinese visitors who are expected to arrive in droves during the coming Ching Ming Festival break. AlipayHK, a subsidiary of Ant International, an affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding, which owns the South China Morning Post, said on Thursday that its e-payment system was available to 47,000 taxi drivers. WeChat Pay HK said more than 40,000... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348828/40000-taxi-drivers-sign-e-payment-systems-new-rules-come-force?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348828/40000-taxi-drivers-sign-e-payment-systems-new-rules-come-force?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:12:07 +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 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Mainland Chinese investors extended their buying spree of Hong Kong stocks in March, looking past the turmoil triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran and betting that Chinese assets would be able to withstand the oil shock. Onshore traders bought HK$61.4 billion (US$7.8 billion) of the city’s stocks through the cross-border exchange link programme last month, marking a third consecutive month of net inflows, data from the Hong Kong stock exchange and Bloomberg showed. The buying came even as the... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348758/chinese-traders-shrug-volatility-buy-hong-kong-stocks-third-straight-month?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348758/chinese-traders-shrug-volatility-buy-hong-kong-stocks-third-straight-month?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 06:00:12 +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 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat China Mobile has invested nearly HK$10 billion (US$1.28 billion) over five years to help turn Hong Kong into a global computing hub, integrating the city into China’s national network. The world’s largest telecoms operator by subscribers on Wednesday opened a new data centre in northern Hong Kong and said it would step up investment in next-generation submarine cables. The state-owned group aims to bring Hong Kong into China’s national computing network, which has the world’s second-largest... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3347877/china-mobile-bets-hong-kong-gateway-global-computing-flows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3347877/china-mobile-bets-hong-kong-gateway-global-computing-flows?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:30:08 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Alibaba Group Holding’s research arm Damo Academy has unveiled a chip designed to fuel artificial intelligence agents, as the tech giant bets on open-source RISC-V architecture to ride the wave of agentic AI. XuanTie C950, the latest flagship in Alibaba’s XuanTie RISC-V series, was introduced at the company’s annual ecosystem conference in Shanghai on Tuesday. Designed for high-performance tasks in cloud computing and AI computing, the C950 is a “CPU core” – the fundamental architecture for a... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3347684/alibaba-debuts-its-latest-risc-v-based-chip-amid-shift-ai-agents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3347684/alibaba-debuts-its-latest-risc-v-based-chip-amid-shift-ai-agents?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 08:00:11 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Hong Kong stocks rebounded on Tuesday on signs of a de-escalation of the US-Israel war against Iran after President Donald Trump said he would delay any attacks on the Gulf nation’s energy facilities. The Hang Seng Index surged 2.8 per cent to 25,063.71 at the close. The Hang Seng Tech Index gained 2.5 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index climbed 1.3 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index advanced 1.8 per cent. Biotech firm Wuxi AppTec rallied 11 per cent to HK$113.60 after its net... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347649/hong-kong-stocks-rebound-hopes-us-iran-deal-tensions-ease?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347649/hong-kong-stocks-rebound-hopes-us-iran-deal-tensions-ease?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 02:00:45 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Tencent Holdings is rolling out a “ClawBot” plug-in for China’s most popular app WeChat as it seeks to capitalise on the OpenClaw craze, even as authorities continue to warn about risks. The move announced on Sunday will allow WeChat’s more than 1 billion monthly active users to command their OpenClaw artificial intelligence agents directly through the app, which is deeply embedded in daily life in China. In recent weeks, almost every Chinese tech giant has announced new offerings based on... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347590/tencent-adds-clawbot-plug-wechat-amid-openclaw-boom-and-privacy-warnings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347590/tencent-adds-clawbot-plug-wechat-amid-openclaw-boom-and-privacy-warnings?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:30:07 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen China’s Unitree Robotics has filed for a long-awaited initial public offering (IPO) on Shanghai’s Star Market, seeking to raise about 4.2 billion yuan (US$607.8 million). Widely seen as a bellwether for China’s emerging humanoid robotics industry, Unitree’s listing, if approved, could become a landmark test of investor appetite for so-called embodied AI companies. Here is what you need to know about Unitree, including how it makes a profit while peers are still burning cash, its shareholder... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347611/inside-unitrees-landmark-ipo-what-know-about-chinas-humanoid-giant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347611/inside-unitrees-landmark-ipo-what-know-about-chinas-humanoid-giant?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:45:08 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Hong Kong stocks slumped by the most in nearly a year alongside other Asian markets on Monday as investors moved to price in tighter monetary policy, with Middle East tensions showing no sign of easing. The Hang Seng Index fell 3.5 per cent to 24,382.47 at the close, the steepest drop since April 7 last year. The Hang Seng Tech Index tumbled 3.3 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index slid 3.3 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index retreated 3.6 per cent. Laopu Gold tumbled 8.6 per cent... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347522/hong-kong-stocks-tumble-asia-strait-hormuz-crisis-deepens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347522/hong-kong-stocks-tumble-asia-strait-hormuz-crisis-deepens?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 02:02:29 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Steven Li sells cosmetics to overseas customers from the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu. This month, amid the popularity of the OpenClaw AI agent framework, he expanded the business by “hiring” four “AI employees”. On the front lines, the AI customer service manages real-time inquiries 24/7 on WhatsApp, while a “digital sales” agent provides price quotes. Behind the scenes, a third role ensures operational transparency by providing tracking status for every order, while an “operations... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347416/openclaw-government-support-fuels-rise-one-person-companies-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347416/openclaw-government-support-fuels-rise-one-person-companies-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 10:00:26 +0000 Coco Feng,Wency Chen Coco Feng,Wency Chen ByteDance has struck a deal to sell its gaming studio Moonton to Savvy Games Group, a Saudi gaming company owned by the country’s sovereign wealth fund, for more than US$6 billion, according to information from the two sides on Friday. Moonton, known for the popular online battle title Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, recently signed an agreement to sell to Savvy, owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Moonton CEO Zhang Yunfan said in an internal memo on Thursday seen by the South China... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347352/bytedance-sells-games-studio-moonton-saudi-firm-over-us6-billion-amid-pivot-ai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347352/bytedance-sells-games-studio-moonton-saudi-firm-over-us6-billion-amid-pivot-ai?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:32:59 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Stocks in Hong Kong and mainland China slumped on Thursday, with a key gauge of yuan-denominated stocks briefly breaching the 4,000-point mark for the first time in two months, as a resurgence in oil prices fuelled concerns about a global recession following the attacks on energy facilities in Gulf nations. The Hang Seng Index tumbled 2 per cent to 25,500.58 at the close. The Hang Seng Tech Index dropped 2.2 per cent. On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index retreated 1.4 per cent,... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347091/hong-kong-stocks-retreat-fed-warns-iran-conflict-clouds-inflation-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347091/hong-kong-stocks-retreat-fed-warns-iran-conflict-clouds-inflation-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 02:04:52 +0000 Xinyi Wu,Wency Chen,Coco Feng Xinyi Wu,Wency Chen,Coco Feng The cloud-computing units of Alibaba Group Holding and Baidu are raising prices for certain services by as much as 34 per cent, following similar moves by their American peers earlier this year as artificial intelligence demand and infrastructure costs rise. Starting April 18, Alibaba Cloud’s services running on its AI chips – such as the T-Head Zhengwu 810E unveiled in late January – would cost between 5 and 34 per cent more, the company said in a statement on Wednesday. The price of its Cloud... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347030/alibaba-and-baidu-lift-cloud-prices-34-amid-ai-demand-surge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347030/alibaba-and-baidu-lift-cloud-prices-34-amid-ai-demand-surge?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:30:08 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Tencent Holdings pledged to double its investment in artificial intelligence products and models in 2026, a bigger bet from the tech giant as it gains greater confidence in the technology’s capability to drive future growth across its businesses. The Shenzhen-based company dedicated 18 billion yuan (US$2.6 billion) to the development of new AI products in 2025, including 7 billion yuan in the fourth quarter alone, said Tencent president Martin Lau Chi-ping at a media briefing on Wednesday. “We... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3347023/chinas-tencent-meets-expectations-fourth-quarter-results-ai-wave-lifts-all-boats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3347023/chinas-tencent-meets-expectations-fourth-quarter-results-ai-wave-lifts-all-boats?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 08:52:11 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Chinese tech giant Tencent Holdings has integrated its QClaw AI agent as a mini-program in its flagship WeChat app as it pushes to expand adoption of its OpenClaw-based tool. It said QClaw was now accessible as a mini-program inside WeChat after an upgrade on Wednesday that allowed users to transfer files to their personal computers. QClaw was launched last week as an OpenClaw-based artificial intelligence agent for personal computers that users could control remotely from WeChat on their... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346994/lobster-fever-grips-china-tencent-makes-openclaw-based-tool-available-wechat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346994/lobster-fever-grips-china-tencent-makes-openclaw-based-tool-available-wechat?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:58:57 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Hong Kong stocks rose for a third day on Wednesday as investors tracked overnight gains on Wall Street and took cues from stabilising oil prices, despite lingering geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The Hang Seng Index added 0.6 per cent to 26,025.42 at the close of trading, marking its third consecutive day of gains and the longest winning streak since January 29. The Hang Seng Tech Index was little changed. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index gained 0.5 per cent and the Shanghai... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346952/hong-kong-stocks-extend-winning-streak-amid-stabilising-oil-prices-despite-iran-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346952/hong-kong-stocks-extend-winning-streak-amid-stabilising-oil-prices-despite-iran-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 02:04:27 +0000 Iris Deng,Wency Chen Iris Deng,Wency Chen Tencent Holdings and Alibaba Group Holding are set to report quarterly earnings this week, against a backdrop of an artificial intelligence boom that is reshaping the global economy and fuelling a frenzy in China around open-source AI agents such as OpenClaw. The South China Morning Post examines market expectations for their results and the key themes investors will be watching. What are the expectations for top line and bottom line performances? Shenzhen-based Tencent, operator of China’s... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346920/tencent-and-alibaba-quarterly-earnings-preview-key-things-watch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346920/tencent-and-alibaba-quarterly-earnings-preview-key-things-watch?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 01:00:15 +0000