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ByteDance in talks to form AI phone tie-ups

just now
Jiemian News
ByteDance is pursuing AI smartphone partnerships with Vivo, Lenovo, and Transsion to pre-install generative AI plugins on mid- to high-end models. Sources said Vivo has confirmed the collaboration, which aims to open new monetization channels through traffic sharing and subscription revenue. The rollout is expected to start overseas, with plans to reach up to 200 million devices.

TikTok to form US venture with Oracle

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Bloomberg
TikTok said it will form a US joint venture majority-owned by US investors co-led by Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX, marking a key step in its separation from parent company ByteDance. The USD 14 billion deal, expected to close on January 22, 2026, will give the new TikTok US entity control over data protection and algorithm security, pending Chinese regulatory approval.

AnyMind to acquire Japan’s Sun Smile

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AnyMind Group
AnyMind Group has announced plans to acquire Japan-based beauty distributor Sun Smile, marking its entry into offline retail and its 13th acquisition to date. The deal advances AnyMind’s strategy to integrate social media, e-commerce, and nationwide store distribution into an AI-powered online-to-offline ecosystem that supports brand growth across Japan.

Antler invests in 14 AI startups

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Antler
Venture builder and investor Antler has invested USD 5.6 million in 14 AI startups demonstrating early commercial traction. Each received USD 400,000 in initial funding, with the portfolio spanning sectors from manufacturing to travel automation.

BYD steps up Level 3 self-driving push

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SCMP
BYD is accelerating development of its Level 3 autonomous driving systems after Beijing granted the first production licenses for “hands-off” vehicles. The company has completed more than 150,000 kilometers of testing with Shenzhen authorities and plans to expand efforts as competition in China’s self-driving market intensifies.

GAC revamps sales network amid EV rivalry

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Nikkei Asia
GAC plans to open 600 new multi-brand dealerships by the end of 2026, uniting its Trumpchi, Aion, and Hyptec lines under one roof. The Chinese state-owned automaker aims to revive earnings and modernize the customer experience as competition from Xiaomi, Huawei, and other EV makers intensifies.

Manus hits USD 125 million run rate

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Bloomberg
Manus said its annual revenue run rate has surpassed USD 125 million, eight months after launching AI agents designed to execute tasks. The company, which has grown more than 20% month-on-month since releasing Manus 1.5, is accelerating product and feature rollouts as demand increases.

Former OpenAI researcher joins Tencent

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Bloomberg
Tencent Holdings has appointed former OpenAI researcher Yao Shunyu as chief AI scientist, reporting to president Martin Lau. Yao will lead the company’s new AI infrastructure department and oversee R&D of large models.

Xiaomi launches open-source AI model

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SCMP
Xiaomi has launched MiMo-V2-Flash, an open-source AI model built for reasoning, coding, and agentic tasks. Operating at 150 tokens per second with 309 billion parameters, it is said to match leading models from DeepSeek and Anthropic at a fraction of typical costs.

Shengshu debuts “one-click” video agent

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Shengshu Technology
Shengshu Technology has launched Vidu Agent, a "one-click" AI tool that converts images into 15- to 30-second professional videos. By automating planning, scripting, and assembly, Vidu Agent aims to streamline production for creators and brands, supporting formats from advertising to music videos.

Manus 1.6 launch expands capabilities

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Manus
Manus has launched version 1.6, introducing a new "Max" agent that is said to offer higher task success and a 19.2% boost in user satisfaction. The update also adds mobile app development and "Design View," an interactive canvas for image editing and creation.

Amazon in talks to invest in OpenAI

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The Information
Amazon is in discussions to invest about USD 10 billion in OpenAI, potentially valuing the ChatGPT maker at more than USD 500 billion, according to a source familiar with the matter. The talks follow a USD 38 billion cloud services deal between the companies and come as OpenAI prepares for a possible USD 1 trillion IPO.

EcoFlow eyes US listing

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Bloomberg
EcoFlow Technology, a Shenzhen-based portable battery maker backed by HSG and Hillhouse Investment, is considering a US IPO that could raise at least USD 300 million, according to people familiar with the matter. The company’s plans depend on regulatory approval in China and would represent a rare US listing by a Chinese firm.

China’s Biren eyes IPO amid chip push

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Reuters
Biren Technology, a Shanghai-based chipmaking startup, plans to raise about USD 300 million through a Hong Kong IPO that could launch as soon as this month, with trading expected in January. Backed by state-linked investors, Biren is part of China’s drive to build homegrown GPU alternatives amid US export restrictions on advanced chips.

Alibaba launches Wanxiang 2.6 model

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Sina
Alibaba has launched Wanxiang 2.6, an upgraded video generation model that supports roleplay, sound-driven motion, and multi-shot production, marking China’s first video AI model with character simulation. Designed primarily to support professional filmmaking and creative industries, the model offers enhanced visual fidelity and audio performance.

Baidu’s no-code tool hits 500,000 apps

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Sina
Baidu’s no-code platform Miaoda has reportedly generated more than 500,000 commercial applications across 200 use cases in just eight months. Baidu said over 80% of users are non-programmers, while more than 20,000 apps have integrated payment functions. Baidu claims the platform has created over RMB 5 billion in combined economic and efficiency value.

BYD, others win Singapore e-bus deal

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CNA
BYD has secured contracts worth SGD 105.8 million to supply 210 electric buses to Singapore’s Land Transport Authority. The order is part of a 660-bus electrification program, with deployments beginning in late 2026 as Singapore moves toward a fully "cleaner energy bus fleet" by 2040.

Xpeng begins Level 3 trials in Guangzhou

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IT Zhijia
Xpeng Motors has received a permit to test Level 3 autonomous driving in Guangzhou and has reportedly begun regular trials on designated highway routes. The company also announced its second-generation VLA system with Level 4 capabilities, which is scheduled for mass production in early 2026.

Musinsa opens first China store in Shanghai

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Jiemian News
South Korean fashion retailer Musinsa has opened its first Musinsa Standard store in China on Shanghai’s Huaihai Road, with a Musinsa Store to follow on Anfu Road. Backed by Anta Sports, the company plans to open over 100 stores across China by 2030 to drive expansion ahead of its planned 2026 IPO.

Xpeng to build EVs in Malaysia by 2026

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Nikkei Asia
Xpeng will begin local EV production in Malaysia in 2026 through a partnership with EP Manufacturing, marking a shift from exports to localized manufacturing. Vehicles will be semi-assembled at EP’s Malacca plant to tap Malaysia’s EV incentives and support Xpeng’s expansion across right-hand-drive markets in the ASEAN region.
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