https://www.scmp.com/rss/521860/feed Amap, a leading Chinese technology company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Alibaba Group, specialises in digital mapping, navigation, and ride-hailing services. Headquartered in Beijing, China, it provides a comprehensive platform offering real-time traffic, public transport guidance, and integrated local lifestyle services. Amap primarily serves the vast Chinese market, including daily commuters and travellers, and has expanded its reach to international users within China and Chinese users... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s cap of 10,000 vehicle permits for ride-hailing services is a “prudent and safe starting point” and the government will dynamically adjust the quota based on operational data, the city’s transport minister has said. The quota, revealed on Tuesday, prompted lawmakers to call for frequent reviews in the initial months after the scheme’s launch and swift government intervention if services proved insufficient. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Secretary for Transport and Logistics... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3355050/ride-hailing-cap-10000-prudent-start-hong-kong-transport-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3355050/ride-hailing-cap-10000-prudent-start-hong-kong-transport-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 10:36:04 +0000 Oscar Liu,Edith Lin,Cannix Yau Oscar Liu,Edith Lin,Cannix Yau Hong Kong authorities have set a cap of 10,000 vehicles for ride-hailing service permits, marking a key step in their long-running effort to establish a regulatory framework, with applicants who have owned a private car for a certain period likely to be given priority. The news drew criticism from both ride-hailing giant Uber and the taxi trade. Uber Hong Kong warned that more than 20,000 people would lose a flexible earning opportunity, adding that a lottery-like quota allocation would put the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3354927/hong-kong-set-ride-hailing-permit-quota-10000-under-regulatory-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3354927/hong-kong-set-ride-hailing-permit-quota-10000-under-regulatory-push?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2026 11:48:47 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong will take into account local public transport conditions and passenger needs when deciding how many ride-hailing vehicles can operate legally, ensuring service standards remain unchanged, the city’s leader has said. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also said on Tuesday that a mechanism would be established to monitor market operations and data, as well as to conduct dynamic assessments and reviews of quotas. His remarks were made after authorities revealed details of the regulatory... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3354058/ride-hailing-licence-cap-must-strike-balance-hong-kong-john-lee-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3354058/ride-hailing-licence-cap-must-strike-balance-hong-kong-john-lee-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 05:30:46 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Issuing “several thousand” licences to ride-hailing vehicles under a proposed regulatory framework will be insufficient to meet demand, a Hong Kong government transport advisory body has said, calling for a quota that will not compromise existing services. Speaking after meeting government officials on Monday, Professor Wong Sze-chun, chairman of the Transport Advisory Committee, said members did not suggest specific numbers for ride-hailing platforms, vehicles or driver licences. “[A level of]... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3354001/several-thousand-ride-hailing-licences-wont-cover-demand-advisory-panel-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3354001/several-thousand-ride-hailing-licences-wont-cover-demand-advisory-panel-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 12:26:51 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Twelve years after illegal ride-hailing was launched to compete with taxi services in Hong Kong and give passengers a wider choice, the government has embarked on the last stage of a long journey towards regulating them and putting them on a legal footing. The major issue for stakeholders in both the taxi industry and ride-hailing platforms – and for customers – is the hotly disputed cap on the number of ride-hailing vehicles to be allowed on the road. The Transport and Logistics Bureau says it... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353361/ride-hailing-regulation-must-keep-customers-and-operators-mind?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353361/ride-hailing-regulation-must-keep-customers-and-operators-mind?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 22:45:05 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Uber Hong Kong has warned that a proposed cap of up to 15,000 ride-hailing permits could trigger a 70 per cent increase in fares and result in 40 per cent of peak-hour bookings being unsuccessful. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan stressed on Tuesday that the government did not currently have a “specific preference” regarding the quota limit, but pledged that a cap would be adopted in consideration of cabbies’ demands and the impact on the taxi industry. A day after the government... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3353270/uber-hong-kong-warns-proposed-permit-cap-risks-triggering-70-rise-fares?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3353270/uber-hong-kong-warns-proposed-permit-cap-risks-triggering-70-rise-fares?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 09:10:36 +0000 Denise Tsang,Ng Kang-chung,Oscar Liu Denise Tsang,Ng Kang-chung,Oscar Liu Hong Kong taxi industry leaders and Uber have both voiced concerns over a looming quota for ride-hailing vehicles, despite transport authorities promising to consult stakeholders before settling on a figure. The concerns were raised in response to the Transport and Logistics Bureau’s submission to lawmakers on Monday regarding regulatory details, which cited suggestions that between 10,000 and 15,000 permits should be issued. Transport minister Mable Chan told lawmakers a day later that the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3353204/how-many-ride-hailing-permits-should-hong-kong-allow-depends-who-you-ask?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3353204/how-many-ride-hailing-permits-should-hong-kong-allow-depends-who-you-ask?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 00:30:07 +0000 Oscar Liu,Matthew Cheng,Wynna Wong,Denise Tsang Oscar Liu,Matthew Cheng,Wynna Wong,Denise Tsang Hong Kong authorities plan to finalise the cap on ride-hailing vehicles and the technical framework of a long-awaited regulatory regime for the service before making them law ahead of the legislature’s recess in mid-July. In a document submitted to the Legislative Council on Monday, the Transport and Logistics Bureau also outlined penalties for ride-hailing platform operators that failed to comply with the rules. Offenders could face fines of up to HK$1 million (US$127,720) and 12 months in jail... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3353118/calls-20500-ride-hailing-permits-keep-15000-cars-hong-kong-roads-daily?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3353118/calls-20500-ride-hailing-permits-keep-15000-cars-hong-kong-roads-daily?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 06:56:36 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Alibaba Group Holding has struck its first external partnership for its flagship consumer artificial intelligence app, linking it with China Eastern Airlines in a move that pushes its agentic capabilities beyond the company’s own ecosystem and into real-world services. The company said the fresh collaboration allowed users of the Qwen app to manage the full flight booking process – from search and ticket purchase to seat selection and check-in – within a single natural-language chat interface.... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3351076/alibaba-opens-qwen-app-outside-partners-china-eastern-airlines-tie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3351076/alibaba-opens-qwen-app-outside-partners-china-eastern-airlines-tie?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 03:12:43 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Chinese Big Tech firms from Huawei Technologies’ spin-off Honor to Alibaba Group Holding are moving to the forefront of the country’s robotics push as Beijing seeks to spur growth in the sector. Honor, which separated from Huawei in 2020 to focus on smartphones and wearables and only expanded into robotics last year, emerged as the surprise gold medal winner at the second Beijing humanoid half-marathon on Sunday, besting the country’s robotics darlings from Unitree to X-Humanoid. Its Lightning... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350755/chinese-tech-giants-advance-robotics-push-sector-sees-rapid-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350755/chinese-tech-giants-advance-robotics-push-sector-sees-rapid-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:00:12 +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 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu More than 47,000 taxi drivers have adopted the commercial version of the Octopus app or equipped their cabs with mobile card readers ahead of new electronic payment regulations taking effect in Hong Kong on Wednesday, transport authorities have said. The new measures require cab drivers to provide at least two e-payment options, as part of a broader government push to modernise the industry’s image and service quality. The Transport Department on Tuesday said three dedicated service stations at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348480/over-47000-cabbies-adopt-octopus-card-readers-ahead-e-payment-regulations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348480/over-47000-cabbies-adopt-octopus-card-readers-ahead-e-payment-regulations?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 04:05:53 +0000 Evian Yu Evian Yu As someone who grew up in Hong Kong’s concrete jungle and spent years navigating London’s streets, I thought I understood cities. Yet nothing prepared me for Chongqing. Locals call this the “8D city”, a metropolis of overlapping levels where the ground floor of one building might simultaneously be the 10th floor of another building. After five days, I understood why. Chongqing defies conventional city planning, shaped instead by mountains and rivers. As I stepped out of Chongqing Jiangbei... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3344328/how-chongqing-china-offers-enthralling-8d-experience-nothing-else?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3344328/how-chongqing-china-offers-enthralling-8d-experience-nothing-else?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng As the Lunar New Year holiday approaches, the Chinese government has summoned Meituan, Alibaba Group Holding, Didi Chuxing, SF Express and other logistics firms to ensure the welfare of the tens of millions of gig workers who keep the country running during the rush. The “employment administrative guidance” session, held recently by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, in coordination with six other government agencies, called on 16 major Chinese platform and logistics operators... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3342989/china-calls-delivery-ride-hailing-firms-respect-gig-worker-rights-ahead-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3342989/china-calls-delivery-ride-hailing-firms-respect-gig-worker-rights-ahead-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 02:37:35 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A former People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldier has been sentenced to eight months in prison for illegally carrying passengers in his Tesla Model S luxury car using a ride-hailing platform while in Hong Kong as a tourist. Fanling Court on Monday heard that Zeng Yulin, 39, travelled to Hong Kong from Shenzhen between June and August last year to offer paid rides using online mapping service Amap, earning more than HK$73,000 (US$9,400) in two months. He told Acting Principal Magistrate Veronica... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3341221/ex-pla-soldier-jailed-8-months-offering-illegal-ride-hailing-trips-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3341221/ex-pla-soldier-jailed-8-months-offering-illegal-ride-hailing-trips-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 05:35:21 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Alibaba’s ambition to turn its chatbot app into a powerful AI assistant that dramatically changes the way people interact with smart devices appears to be paying off, according to users and analysts. Instead of repeatedly swiping a screen to complete a task, a user can tell the Qwen app to conduct a range of tasks from ordering drinks to paying electricity bills after the Hangzhou-based technology giant links it to the group’s existing apps like shopping platform Taobao and payment interface... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3340150/alibabas-upgraded-qwen-chatbot-app-receives-warm-consumer-reception?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3340150/alibabas-upgraded-qwen-chatbot-app-receives-warm-consumer-reception?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 09:45:08 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A former People’s Liberation Army soldier has been remanded in custody in Hong Kong pending sentencing for offering paid rides with his Tesla Model S luxury sedan while using a tourist visa last year. Zeng Yulin, 39, pleaded guilty to 19 charges on Thursday after a police sting operation uncovered his illicit business, which earned him more than HK$73,000 (US$9,370) in two months. The court heard Zeng borrowed his friend’s Hong Kong identity card and driving licence without telling him he would... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3339227/ex-pla-soldier-remanded-hong-kong-offering-illegal-ride-hailing-services?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3339227/ex-pla-soldier-remanded-hong-kong-offering-illegal-ride-hailing-services?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 13:51:59 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Amap, the mapping and navigation platform of Alibaba Group Holding, has launched new features powered by its top-ranking world model, as the tech giant doubles down on artificial intelligence to upgrade its massive consumer ecosystem. “Flying Street View”, a new feature on the Amap app based on the unit’s self-developed system designed to simulate real-world environments, allowed users to take 3D virtual tours of restaurants and other offline venues, the company said at a launch event in... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3338964/alibabas-amap-rolls-out-ai-powered-3d-virtual-tours-offline-destinations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3338964/alibabas-amap-rolls-out-ai-powered-3d-virtual-tours-offline-destinations?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 02:00:27 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Amap, the mapping and navigation arm of Alibaba Group Holding, is stepping up research into “world models” – systems designed to simulate real-world environments – as the tech giant pushes deeper into embedding artificial intelligence across its services. The unit planned to launch a new product based on its FantasyWorld model, which was developed by the Alibaba Amap Computer Vision Lab and released in September, according to Shanghai Securities News. Alibaba did not immediately respond to a... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3338944/alibabas-amap-muscles-world-models-push-beyond-text-based-ai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3338944/alibabas-amap-muscles-world-models-push-beyond-text-based-ai?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:00:12 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Alibaba Group Holding is folding its mapping and navigation platform Amap into its Qwen artificial intelligence app, in a tie-up the company says will sharpen Qwen’s real-world “life services” just weeks after the app’s debut. The integration, announced on Thursday, lets Qwen users handle travel and lifestyle requests – from restaurant and hotel recommendations to route planning and turn-by-turn navigation – in a single conversational interface. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post. Alibaba... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3336935/alibaba-deepens-ecosystem-push-qwen-amap-tie-routes-restaurants-and-hotels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3336935/alibaba-deepens-ecosystem-push-qwen-amap-tie-routes-restaurants-and-hotels?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 12:30:12 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu TikTok owner ByteDance is the top recruiter in China’s tech sector this year, while at the same time artificial intelligence-related job postings on the mainland have risen more than 500 per cent, according to a report by Maimai, China’s largest professional social networking platform. ByteDance dominated tech hiring between January and October, with a hiring index of 897, ahead of Meituan at 587 and Alibaba Group Holding at 407, while AI related job listings surged 543 per cent, the report... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3336503/bytedance-dominates-chinas-tech-hiring-ai-talent-demand-surges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3336503/bytedance-dominates-chinas-tech-hiring-ai-talent-demand-surges?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 23:00:10 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com has opened a new front in China’s intensifying on-demand local services war, rolling out a stand-alone food-delivery app and a “JD Review” platform for what it says are genuine, non-commercialised user ratings, in a direct challenge to Meituan and Alibaba Group Holding-backed services. The twin launches mark JD.com’s latest attempt to claw back relevance in instant commerce, a fast-growing segment where Meituan and Alibaba have consolidated dominant positions,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3333225/jdcom-steps-demand-local-services-battle-food-app-and-review-platform?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3333225/jdcom-steps-demand-local-services-battle-food-app-and-review-platform?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 09:00:09 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng says it will roll out robotaxi services using Alibaba Group Holding’s mapping service Amap in 2026 as it applies artificial intelligence capabilities to marketable services and products. Three robotaxi models, along with a humanoid robot and two flying cars, would be the latest Xpeng products to woo consumers by applying its new vision language action (VLA) AI model, said He Xiaopeng, Xpeng chairman and CEO, on Wednesday. Xpeng’s driverless vehicles would be... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3331658/chinese-ev-maker-xpeng-roll-out-driverless-cars-alibabas-amap-take-tesla-fsd?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3331658/chinese-ev-maker-xpeng-roll-out-driverless-cars-alibabas-amap-take-tesla-fsd?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Nov 2025 11:24:50 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Amap, the mapping and local services business under Alibaba Group Holding, is expanding its global footprint in tandem with the overseas drive of Chinese carmakers, potentially challenging the dominance of Google Maps. Amap on Monday unveiled an international version of its AutoSDK, a software toolkit designed to support carmakers in developing in-car navigation and cockpit systems for foreign markets. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post. Chinese car brands had long struggled to adapt... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3331473/alibabas-amap-rides-china-car-boom-drive-challenge-google-maps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3331473/alibabas-amap-rides-china-car-boom-drive-challenge-google-maps?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Nov 2025 13:00:18 +0000 Lam Ka-sing,Ambrose Li Lam Ka-sing,Ambrose Li Hong Kong’s taxi industry is gearing up for a new battle over fair competition in the wake of a ride-hailing bill’s passage, demanding a meeting with transport officials and warning that the government’s franchised fleet initiative may be undermined. While industry bodies on Thursday broadly welcomed the long-awaited legal framework, they also raised unresolved details, saying the new law would be meaningless without strict and equitable rules on licensing, vehicle standards and operational... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3329285/taxi-industry-shifts-focus-fair-play-after-hong-kong-passes-ride-hailing-bill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3329285/taxi-industry-shifts-focus-fair-play-after-hong-kong-passes-ride-hailing-bill?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 13:12:23 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Ride-hailing companies are expected to be licensed by the fourth quarter of next year after legislators passed a bill establishing a regulatory framework for the services in Hong Kong, a step that should bring to an end a long-running acrimonious dispute with the taxi trade. By a show of hands, lawmakers passed the Road Traffic Amendment Bill on Wednesday, and it will be sent to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu for his signature before being gazetted. “The passage of the bill marks a new... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3329141/milestone-law-ends-decade-limbo-ride-hailing-services-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3329141/milestone-law-ends-decade-limbo-ride-hailing-services-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 11:50:54 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Amap, Alibaba Group Holding’s answer to Google Maps, saw a record 360 million daily users on the first day of China’s “golden week” National Day holiday, as the company strengthens its local service offerings amid increasing competition with Meituan. On Wednesday, the first day of the extended eight-day break, Amap provided navigation for trips totalling over 9 billion km, also a record high, according to Alibaba, owner of the Post. Meanwhile, Amap’s new road safety alert system, Eagle Eye... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3327598/alibabas-amap-hits-record-360-million-users-chinas-national-day-golden-week-begins?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3327598/alibabas-amap-hits-record-360-million-users-chinas-national-day-golden-week-begins?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 06:00:12 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Super Typhoon Ragasa disrupted production of Apple’s iPhones in Shenzhen and crucial pre-holiday shipments by cross-border e-commerce merchants, as the year’s strongest storm barrelled towards southern China with heavy rain and hurricane-force winds. The world’s largest electronics contract manufacturer, Foxconn Technology Group, on Tuesday suspended assembly work at its Shenzhen unit – the innovative Product Enclosure Business Group, responsible for high-speed connectors, memory and other... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3326663/super-typhoon-ragasa-disrupts-iphone-production-cross-border-e-commerce-southern-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3326663/super-typhoon-ragasa-disrupts-iphone-production-cross-border-e-commerce-southern-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Sep 2025 09:00:19 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Alibaba Group Holding’s competition with Meituan is expanding from instant commerce into the bricks-and-mortar market, as the Hangzhou-based tech conglomerate prepares to offer discounted in-store dining vouchers to consumers on the mainland. That new initiative is expected to start on Saturday in selected districts in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Jiaxing, a city in eastern Zhejiang province, according to a report on Friday by local media outlet LatePost, which cited unnamed sources. Alibaba, owner of... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3326190/alibaba-meituan-battle-heats-rivalry-expands-store-dining-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3326190/alibaba-meituan-battle-heats-rivalry-expands-store-dining-report?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 12:00:14 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Alibaba Group Holding has unveiled a “leading open-source deep research” artificial intelligence agent that it says matches the performance of OpenAI’s flagship Deep Research tool, while being more efficient. The agent has been integrated into Alibaba’s maps app, Amap, and its AI-powered legal research tool, Tongyi FaRui, according to a blog post on Tuesday by Alibaba’s AI search development team, Tongyi Lab. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post. Users of Amap can leverage the deep research... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3326015/alibaba-releases-open-source-ai-agent-rival-openais-flagship-deep-research?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3326015/alibaba-releases-open-source-ai-agent-rival-openais-flagship-deep-research?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 13:00:14 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao More than 40 million Amap users logged on to test its artificial intelligence-powered ranking service, as Alibaba Group Holding’s answer to Google Maps started ranking mainland destinations and providing recommendations for 1.6 million establishments. Amap Street Stars – which uses AI algorithms to rank destinations including restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions – recorded that many users on its launch on Wednesday, as the mapping app positioned itself as a gateway for lifestyle services,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3325225/amap-alibabas-answer-google-maps-sees-over-40-million-users-test-new-ranking-service?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3325225/amap-alibabas-answer-google-maps-sees-over-40-million-users-test-new-ranking-service?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Sep 2025 02:00:15 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Alibaba Group Holding on Wednesday launched an artificial intelligence-powered ranking feature on its online mapping service Amap, as the tech giant doubles down on AI applications and deepens its rivalry with food delivery leader Meituan. Amap Street Stars, a ranking featured on the app’s homepage, used AI algorithms to rank offline destinations including restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions, to “advance Amap’s role as the gateway for lifestyle services”, Alibaba said at the launch event... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3324989/alibabas-amap-ranking-feature-latest-salvo-against-meituan-chinas-e-commerce-wars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3324989/alibabas-amap-ranking-feature-latest-salvo-against-meituan-chinas-e-commerce-wars?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 04:23:33 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong authorities could use their right to control ride-hailing prices to prevent excessive and reductive competition, or involution, the Post has learned, but a lawmaker warned on Sunday that this could cause legal problems and suggested regulation through controlling the number of licences issued instead. A source said that the government could, under an existing section of the Road Traffic Ordinance, set a minimum price for ride-hailing services to avoid involution among ride-hailing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3324643/hong-kong-may-set-ride-hailing-floor-price-prevent-involution-post-learns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3324643/hong-kong-may-set-ride-hailing-floor-price-prevent-involution-post-learns?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Sep 2025 06:03:34 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong’s transport authorities have unveiled a proposed regulatory framework for legalising ride-hailing services, which includes a licensing system as well as set requirements for vehicle age and insurance, in a move to end more than a decade of the industry operating in a legal grey area. The policy paper submitted to lawmakers on Thursday also outlined a series of measures to respond to the taxi industry’s concerns, including requiring ride-hailing vehicles to display clear markings while... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3324362/proposed-hong-kong-ride-hailing-rules-cover-licensing-vehicle-age-and-insurance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3324362/proposed-hong-kong-ride-hailing-rules-cover-licensing-vehicle-age-and-insurance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 10:17:39 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong authorities searched more than 130 premises in a crackdown on illegal employment over the weekend, arresting 14 workers and five bosses, with most cases linked to the catering sector. Police also said on Sunday they had made two further arrests in connection with a syndicate that allegedly recruited mainland Chinese drivers to operate illegal ride-hailing services in the city. In the past week, authorities have made 38 arrests over illegal employment activities. The Immigration... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3322139/hong-kong-police-arrest-2-more-suspects-illegal-ride-hailing-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3322139/hong-kong-police-arrest-2-more-suspects-illegal-ride-hailing-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Aug 2025 11:07:18 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong police have arrested a 53-year-old man for allegedly providing his information to a fraud syndicate to create a rented ride-hailing account and are searching for three other suspects, following a passenger’s complaint about a driver without a Hong Kong ID card. Police Superintendent Li Muk-yik, who called the syndicate’s behaviour “extremely despicable”, said the three wanted individuals were a core member of the syndicate, the driver involved in the passenger’s complaint and the owner... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3321878/hong-kong-man-held-allegedly-giving-details-ride-hailing-fraud-syndicate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3321878/hong-kong-man-held-allegedly-giving-details-ride-hailing-fraud-syndicate?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2025 09:29:10 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au A ride-hailing service provider has permanently blocked a driver’s account after it was found to have been illegally used by another man in a case investigated by police. The case came to light on Monday when a passenger filmed his ride-hailing experience, with his driver admitting that he did not hold a Hong Kong identity card, suggesting he was not permitted to work in the city. The trip was arranged by a service provider, Universe Call, for the Amap ride-hailing platform. Universe Call said... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3321753/firm-blocks-account-used-ride-hailing-driver-working-without-hong-kong-id-card?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3321753/firm-blocks-account-used-ride-hailing-driver-working-without-hong-kong-id-card?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Aug 2025 11:29:48 +0000 Vivian Au,Oscar Liu Vivian Au,Oscar Liu Police have launched an investigation after a driver on a mainland Chinese ride-hailing platform purportedly told a passenger he was not a Hong Kong identity card holder, while the Immigration Department has also expressed worries about illegal employment activities. In a reply to the Post, the force said on Tuesday that it had received a report about the case of suspected illegal passenger services. Police launched the probe after Terry Leung, a 38-year-old sales representative, filmed his... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3321627/hong-kong-police-probe-case-ride-hailing-driver-working-without-id-card?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3321627/hong-kong-police-probe-case-ride-hailing-driver-working-without-id-card?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2025 14:33:37 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Alibaba Group Holding’s online marketplace Taobao has launched a new membership system that integrates various services from the firm’s other apps, aiming to create synergies and drive growth across the company’s expansive ecosystem. The loyalty programme, free of charge, offers users a range of benefits from Taobao, on-demand delivery service Ele.me, online travel agency Fliggy, grocery chain Freshippo, and online mapping and ride-hailing service Amap. It was open to about 1 billion users on... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3320969/alibabas-taobao-debuts-multi-tier-loyalty-scheme-offering-shopping-discounts-hotel-perks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3320969/alibabas-taobao-debuts-multi-tier-loyalty-scheme-offering-shopping-discounts-hotel-perks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Aug 2025 13:00:20 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A mainland Chinese visitor has been jailed for two months and disqualified from driving in Hong Kong for a year after he was found to have offered ride-hailing services without the required permit. Ye Hai, 41, on Wednesday admitted to offering paid rides using the online mapping service Amap on July 7, three days after he entered Hong Kong on a two-way permit. He pleaded guilty at Kowloon City Court to breaching his condition of stay, driving a motor vehicle for the carriage of passengers for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3320967/man-jailed-2-months-hong-kong-ride-hailing-case-banned-driving-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3320967/man-jailed-2-months-hong-kong-ride-hailing-case-banned-driving-year?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Aug 2025 09:59:04 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Amap, a mapping and local services provider under Alibaba Group Holding, launched an artificial intelligence (AI) agent on Monday, giving its services a major tech upgrade. Powered by Alibaba’s in-house AI models, the agent can navigate roads, plan trips and recommend places to visit using natural language commands such as “send me to the office” or “please find a quiet place with a lake view”, according to Amap. The AI agent serves as a key consumer-facing tool for Alibaba to deploy its... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3320706/alibabas-maps-app-gets-ai-upgrade-qwen-powered-agent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3320706/alibabas-maps-app-gets-ai-upgrade-qwen-powered-agent?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 13:00:15 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A mainland Chinese visitor has been remanded in custody pending his trial in Hong Kong for allegedly offering ride-hailing services without a hire car permit. Ye Hai, 41, was escorted to Kowloon City Court on Wednesday to face three charges after police scooped up the defendant a day earlier in a sting operation targeting private vehicle drivers suspected of accepting paid customers without the relevant permits. The defendant, who entered Hong Kong last Friday with a two-way permit, allegedly... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3317381/mainland-driver-charged-hong-kong-offering-ride-hailing-service-without-permit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3317381/mainland-driver-charged-hong-kong-offering-ride-hailing-service-without-permit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 08:42:02 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Nearly 80 per cent of more than 4,800 Uber drivers polled in Hong Kong are worried that a strict quota or high licensing fees under coming new regulations for ride-hailing platforms will threaten their livelihoods. The results of the poll conducted by platform operator Uber in June were revealed on Tuesday, just days after Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan announced that a highly anticipated regulatory proposal would be submitted to the legislature before the end of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3317361/80-hong-kong-uber-drivers-worried-about-quota-and-fees-under-new-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3317361/80-hong-kong-uber-drivers-worried-about-quota-and-fees-under-new-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 07:29:18 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A Hong Kong court has quashed a government decision to refuse hire car permits to two prospective Uber drivers seven years ago, rejecting authorities’ contentions that the move could open the floodgates for ride-hailing services and private vehicles to operate as “pseudo-taxis”. In a written judgment handed down on Thursday, the High Court found that the commissioner for transport’s dismissal of two litigants’ requests for a permit in 2018 to be based on an “impracticable, illogical and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3316820/hong-kong-court-quashes-government-decision-refuse-permits-2-uber-drivers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3316820/hong-kong-court-quashes-government-decision-refuse-permits-2-uber-drivers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:20:26 +0000