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The volume of Qwen downloads on Hugging Face reinforced its position as the world’s leading open-source ecosystem. Photo: Shutterstock

Big Tech

Alibaba’s Qwen family hits 700 million downloads to lead open-source AI adoption

Alibaba Cloud’s Qwen family is the world’s most widely used open-source AI system as of January, Hugging Face data shows.

Hong Kong stocks edge higher on tech gains and stabilising China inflation data

China’s AI unlikely to surpass US soon despite progress, researchers say

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Companies

Nvidia, Tesla chase same self-driving goal via different paths

Tesla is betting on winning autonomy as a specialist, while Nvidia is positioning itself as an arms dealer, selling tools to the entire industry.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang used his speech at CES to extol the virtues of Alpamayo, an open-source AI model designed to speed development of level 4 self-driving cars. Photo: AFP
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang used his speech at CES to extol the virtues of Alpamayo, an open-source AI model designed to speed development of level 4 self-driving cars. Photo: AFP

Companies

Elon Musk to open source X algorithm in 7 days amid global scrutiny

The company has been working to incorporate more AI into its recommendation algorithm through Grok, Musk’s AI chatbot.

Tech Trends

Chinese smart eyewear makers shine at CES with focus on challenging Meta

‘The rise of smart glasses is riding directly on advances in AI,’ LLVision founder and CEO Wu Fei says.

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Big Tech

Review of Meta-Manus deal underscores China’s tightening grip on AI exports

AI agent start-up may face half a year of regulatory checks on data security, dual-use technologies and overseas investment rules: analysts.

The Ministry of Commerce says it will work with other Chinese regulators to assess whether Meta’s acquisition of Manus complies with the country’s export controls and technology transfer rules. Photo: Shutterstock
The Ministry of Commerce says it will work with other Chinese regulators to assess whether Meta’s acquisition of Manus complies with the country’s export controls and technology transfer rules. Photo: Shutterstock

Big Tech

The great chip leap: China’s semiconductor equipment self-reliance beats targets

Domestic suppliers capture 35 per cent share as China accelerates push for semiconductor self-sufficiency.

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Tech Trends

Chinese firms, led by AgiBot, outpace US rivals in 2025 humanoid robot shipments

‘Chinese vendors are setting benchmarks in large-scale production,’ Omdia analyst Lian Jye Su says.

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Big Tech

Alibaba logistics unit Cainiao opens US-Mexico cross-border service

Cainiao is expected to control key nodes including sorting, line-haul transfer and last-mile delivery for the service.

Cainiao, the logistics arm of Alibaba Group Holding, continues its overseas expansion. Photo: Cainiao

Tech Trends

MiniMax and Zhipu’s stellar Hong Kong IPOs supercharge China’s AI ambitions

Zhipu’s coding assistant is wooing subscribers with a monthly fee of about US$3, a fraction of what Anthropic charges for Claude.

MiniMax became a darling of investors with its gain of 80 per cent when the stock debuted on Friday. Photo: Shutterstock Images
MiniMax became a darling of investors with its gain of 80 per cent when the stock debuted on Friday. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Banking & Finance

Chinese AI start-up MiniMax shines on Hong Kong IPO debut

The shares jump as much as 113.2 per cent to HK$351.80 before ending the day 109.1 per cent higher at HK$345.

Tech Trends

Chinese robot vacuum maker Dreame sees AI-driven appliances run household chores

The firm’s ambition is to become a ‘world-class technology company’, global president Chang Xinwei says.

Tech Trends

China’s Xpeng unveils hybrid SUV boasting world’s longest driving distance

Launch of new G7 edition underscores Xpeng’s go-global push and rising competition with Tesla and BYD.

The hybrid G7 super utility vehicle boasts a range of more than 1,700km without charging, according to Xpeng. Photo: Handout

China Business

Shanghai steps up oversight of delayed payment practices hurting suppliers

Task force set up to protect supply-chain vendors and stabilise manufacturing amid fierce price wars.

The move comes after Shanghai published its latest action plan to build a world-class business environment. Photo: AFP
The move comes after Shanghai published its latest action plan to build a world-class business environment. Photo: AFP

Tech Trends

Core team of Chinese researchers behind AI model R1 remains intact: DeepSeek

The 18 core scientists behind R1 continue to power the start-up’s AI ambitions and capabilities amid growing anticipation of a new release.

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Tech War

China semiconductor expert suggests vigilance in buying Nvidia’s H200 AI chips

The US has an inconsistent stance on advanced chips, alternating between limited easing and renewed pressure, Wei Shaojun says.

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Tech War

How Nexperia saga exposes Europe’s waning influence in US-China chip war

The dispute around the Dutch chipmaker shows the erosion of Europe’s geopolitical neutrality in the face of escalating US-China rivalry.

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Nexperia is caught in a geopolitical tussle between the Netherlands and China. Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Nexperia is caught in a geopolitical tussle between the Netherlands and China. Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Tech War

China’s lesson for the US: it takes more than chips to win the AI race

The AI war is increasingly waged among ‘hyperscalers’ – companies with full-stack capabilities across software, hardware and applications.

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Tech War

How Huawei and DeepSeek are tending the garden of China’s AI aspirations

Amid growing AI rivalry with the US, the two companies are leading China’s drive to shake off the nation’s dependence on Nvidia processors.

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Big Tech

Immediate gratification: instant commerce transforms China’s retail market

Instant commerce has developed over a short period of time, as providers expanded their on-demand delivery coverage beyond food.

Illustration: Henry Wong
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM
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Tech

China’s Qwen and DeepSeek edge out US AI models in Christian values benchmark

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The questions in FAI-C were reviewed by a panel of Biblical experts, including theologians, pastors, psychologists and scholars of ethics. Photo: SCMP

Big Tech

Alibaba’s Qwen family hits 700 million downloads to lead open-source AI adoption

The volume of Qwen downloads on Hugging Face reinforced its position as the world’s leading open-source ecosystem. Photo: Shutterstock

Big Tech

China’s AI unlikely to surpass US soon despite progress, researchers say

6
A humanoid robot is seen at the 2025 Global Industrial Internet Conference in Shenyang, Liaoning province. Photo: Xinhua

Tech Trends

Chinese smart eyewear makers shine at CES with focus on challenging Meta

Visitors flock to Hangzhou-based Rokid’s eye-catching exhibition booth at the CES trade show in Las Vegas. Photo: Wency Chen

Tech Trends

Chinese firms, led by AgiBot, outpace US rivals in 2025 humanoid robot shipments

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Global humanoid robot shipments reached 13,318 units in 2025, led by Chinese manufacturers. Photo: Shutterstock
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OPINION
Kun Tian

Opinion | Hong Kong’s fertile ground for AI IPOs aligns with China’s tech strategy

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Opinion | The global AI race: 3 scenarios the world must prepare for

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Jake Sullivan

Opinion | US and China must get serious about AI risk

Jake Sullivan
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MULTIMEDIA
Video

Digital ‘Tamagotchi’ pets mark 30 years

The egg-shaped plastic toys that were a playground craze in the 1990s feature digital pets needing to be cared for like live household animals.
03:40
Video

Hongkongers urged to use eMPF to ward off scams

Hongkongers urged to sign up for eMPF platform as defence against scams
Video

How a Shanghai start-up is digitalising Chinese tea

Safety, verification and trust behind start-up company Teakan Technology’s goal to make traditional Chinese tea digitally traceable
Video

Humanoid robots take centre stage at Shanghai summit

Competitions mainly focused on robotic applications in industrial assembly, home services, flower arranging, healthcare and elderly care, as well as restaurant services
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