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Pulses

Douyin cracks down on false marketing

just now
Ebrun
ByteDance's Douyin has launched a crackdown on merchants and content creators over false marketing after uncovering serious violations, including suspected organized fraud. Penalties include live stream bans, frozen payouts, and store removals, with regular audits planned as the platform steps up enforcement to protect consumer trust.

Samsung, Nvidia back Skild AI

just now
Bloomberg
Samsung and Nvidia will take minority stakes in Skild AI, a robotics software startup, as part of a USD 100 million Series B funding round led by SoftBank. The round values Skild at USD 4.5 billion, with Samsung investing USD 10 million and Nvidia committing USD 25 million.

CICC sees major upside in humanoid robots

just now
Zhitong Caijing
Chinese investment bank CICC forecasts long-term market potential exceeding RMB 1 trillion for humanoid robots, which it sees as the leading form of embodied intelligence. Growth is expected to be driven by advances in actuators, sensors, and AI models, though challenges remain in cost control, data quality, and software convergence.

Eight Roads plans China tech selloff

just now
Bloomberg
Fidelity-backed VC firm Eight Roads plans to exit its China tech portfolio, offloading stakes in about 40 companies, potentially at discounts of 60–80%. The move comes amid escalating trade tensions and will see the firm shift its focus to managing legacy holdings and investing in healthcare in China, ending its chapter as a backer of Chinese internet firms.

Nvidia unveils AI model for climate forecasts

just now
WSJ
Nvidia has unveiled cBottle, a new AI model that compresses decades of atmospheric data to deliver five-kilometer-resolution climate simulations at unprecedented speed and scale. Developed under its Earth-2 platform, officials and researchers say it could transform forecasting accuracy and cost, though its broader societal impact remains uncertain.

Sobering outlook for China’s booze market

just now
The Economist
China’s alcohol market is shrinking under pressure from official drinking bans, economic slowdown, and generational shifts in taste. To adapt, brands like Kweichow Moutai and Bud APAC are revising prices, with average canned cocktail prices dropping from RMB 13 in 2022 to under RMB 10, and targeting younger consumers with more novel offerings.

Xpeng debuts G7 with in-house AI chip

just now
Nikkei Asia
Xpeng Motors has officially launched the G7 SUV, its first vehicle powered by the proprietary Turing chip, marking a shift away from Nvidia’s semiconductors. CEO He Xiaopeng said the in-house chip delivers Level 3 computing power (distinct from Level 3 autonomous driving) and offers performance reportedly triple that of Nvidia’s Orin, as Xpeng eyes future AI applications such as humanoid robots and flying cars.

China starts mass production of Kunlong aircraft

just now
CGTN
China’s AG600 “Kunlong” amphibious aircraft has entered mass production after receiving certification from the country’s civil aviation authority. Developed by AVIC, the 60-ton aircraft is touted as the world’s largest of its kind by takeoff weight and is designed for firefighting and emergency rescue missions.

Sam Altman doubles down on Coco Robotics

just now
Coco Robotics
Sam Altman and his brother Max have reupped their investment in Coco Robotics, which has raised USD 80 million to expand its autonomous delivery fleet. Returning investors include Pelion, Outlander, and SNR, with new backing from Offline, DeepWater, and Saltwater CEO Ryan Graves. Coco has completed over 500,000 deliveries and is planning a major rollout this year.

China offers tariff-free trade to Africa

just now
Semafor
China said it is ready to remove tariffs for 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties, expanding its zero-tariff policy amid trade tensions. The move comes as the US trade program with Africa faces uncertainty and new US tariffs could reach rates of up to 50%.

DJI launches Matrice 400 drone platform

just now
DJI
DJI has launched the Matrice 400, its enterprise drone platform featuring a 59-minute flight time, six-kilogram payload capacity, and integrated LiDAR and millimeter-wave radar. With support for AR projection, thermal imaging, and enhanced video transmission, it targets use cases in emergency response, mapping, and power inspections.

iFlytek backs Chinese chips amid US curbs

just now
SCMP
iFlytek chairman Liu Qingfeng said the Chinese AI firm will continue using domestic chips, including Huawei’s Ascend 910B, despite development delays of up to three months compared with Nvidia's systems. Training efficiency has reportedly reached 73% of Nvidia’s A800, as iFlytek works to reduce reliance on restricted foreign technologies.

Mixue Bingcheng tightens franchise rules

just now
Ebrun
Mixue Bingcheng will tighten its franchise policy starting June 11, slowing store expansion and raising performance thresholds for new openings. The updated rules prioritize high-traffic sites and top-performing franchisees as the brand adapts to market saturation and shifts focus to “special channel” locations like scenic spots and transport hubs.

Nvidia CEO sees shift in quantum outlook

just now
CNBC
Nvidia’s Jensen Huang said quantum computing is nearing an “inflection point” and may soon solve real-world problems. Speaking at GTC Paris, he reversed earlier cautious remarks, calling it an “exciting time” and highlighting Nvidia’s Cuda Q as a bridge between classical and quantum systems.

DayOne lands major green data center loan

just now
Bloomberg
DayOne Data Centers has secured MYR 15 billion in multi-currency financing to develop green data centers in Johor, Malaysia. Coordinated by OCBC and UOB, the deal includes Malaysia’s largest green Islamic syndicated loan to date and supports campuses in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone.

China backs Shenzhen to lead AI, aviation

just now
SCMP
China has unveiled new reforms to boost Shenzhen’s tech sectors, including AI and aviation. The strategy aims to scale local innovations and business models nationwide, while supporting cross-border listings and vocational training as the city’s role in the Greater Bay Area economy expands.

OpenAI delays release of open model

just now
TechCrunch
OpenAI’s first open-weight model in years will arrive later this summer instead of June, CEO Sam Altman said on June 11. Aimed at outperforming open rivals like DeepSeek’s R1 and Mistral’s Magistral, the release comes amid growing competition in the open-source AI space.

JD Logistics expands Saudi operations

just now
Sina
JD Logistics is expanding in Saudi Arabia, where it has reportedly built a 1,000-person team and launched deliveries in Riyadh. The firm has opened one of the region’s largest automotive parts centers and partnered with a Chinese EV brand, aiming to serve the Middle East and North Africa.

Lenovo and Volcano Engine team on AI safety

just now
Xinhua
Lenovo is partnering with ByteDance’s Volcano Engine on a hybrid AI system that secures user data across devices and the cloud. Announced on June 11, the system centers on the Tianxi AI agent, launched in May, and builds on Lenovo’s 2023 roadmap to ensure protection both online and offline.  

Yuanbao brings video parsing to WeChat

just now
36Kr
Tencent has upgraded Yuanbao on WeChat to analyze video links, summarizing both content and captions using its Hunyuan model. Users can send links directly, and the AI assistant returns concise highlights. Tencent plans further product integrations as it expands multimodal AI features into more everyday user scenarios.
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