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Alibaba scrambles after sudden departure of Qwen tech lead

7 mins read

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Honda to import China-made EV

just now
Nikkei Asia
Honda will start selling a China-made EV in Japan as early as this spring, becoming the first Japanese automaker to bring a China-built electric model to its home market. The SUV-style e:N vehicle will be adapted for Japanese standards and sold under the Insight brand, offering about 500 kilometers of range per charge.

iFlytek reveals first AI glasses

just now
iFlytek
iFlytek unveiled its first AI glasses at MWC, introducing a 40-gram wearable that delivers real-time voice and visual translation, with subtitles displayed directly in the user’s field of view. The device uses lip-movement recognition to identify active speakers and reduce background noise in crowded settings, supporting multilingual meetings, negotiations, and cross-border communication.

Alibaba hires DeepMind researcher for Qwen

just now
SCMP
Alibaba has recruited Google DeepMind scientist Zhou Hao to lead post-training research for its Qwen AI models, replacing Yu Bowen, sources said. The hire follows the departure of Qwen technical lead Lin Junyang and comes as Alibaba consolidates its AI units and commits RMB 380 billion over three years to AI and cloud infrastructure.

Xiaomi to roll out annual phone chip

just now
CNBC
Xiaomi plans to release a new smartphone processor each year, president Lu Weibing said at MWC, following last year’s Xring O1 debut. The next chip will launch in China this year before expanding overseas. Xiaomi is also developing an AI assistant for international markets, potentially using Google's Gemini, ahead of its planned European EV rollout in 2027.

US reviews Tencent gaming stakes

just now
Financial Times
The White House is debating whether Tencent can retain stakes in Epic Games, Riot Games, and Supercell as President Donald Trump prepares to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in April. The review centers on potential data security risks tied to millions of US users, with officials divided over forcing divestitures or allowing the investments with safeguards.

Schaeffler partners Leju on robotics

just now
36Kr
Schaeffler has named Leju Robotics as its first embodied intelligence partner in China, with plans to collaborate on industrial applications, data training sites, and joint R&D. The partnership integrates Schaeffler’s precision component manufacturing with Leju’s humanoid robot platform and commercialization experience to accelerate large-scale deployment in factories.

Qwen tech lead exits Alibaba

just now
Bloomberg
Junyang Lin, the tech lead behind Alibaba's Qwen AI models, announced on X he is stepping down, offering no reason. The surprise exit came weeks after a major Qwen upgrade and amid Alibaba’s plan to invest more than USD 53 billion in AI infrastructure.

XtalPi forecasts first annual profit

just now
SCMP
XtalPi said it expects to record its first full-year profit in 2025, forecasting net income of at least RMB 100 million after a RMB 1.5 billion loss in 2024. The company projected revenue of at least RMB 780 million, up nearly 193% YoY, with gains on financial assets exceeding RMB 500 million.

Xiaomi tests humanoid robots in EV plant

just now
SCMP
Xiaomi has tested self-developed humanoid robots in its EV plant, where they operated autonomously for three hours and completed assembly tasks with a reported 90.2% success rate within a 76-second production cycle. Founder Lei Jun said the company plans to deploy a large number of humanoid robots across its factories over the next five years.

Xiaomi to produce Leica phone globally

just now
Nikkei Asia
Xiaomi will manufacture a Leica-branded smartphone for global markets, replacing Leica’s prior Japan-only production with Sharp. Priced from EUR 1,999, the model features dual 50-megapixel cameras, a 200-megapixel telephoto lens, and physical ring controls, with global orders set to open in March.

Xiaomi tops 2025 wearables market

just now
Omdia
Global wearable shipments surpassed 200 million units in 2025, up 6% YoY, with Xiaomi ranking first with an 18% market share, followed by Apple at 17% and Huawei at 16%, as the market consolidated and vendors increasingly focused on AI capabilities and subscription-based services.

Alibaba’s Damo expands AI to Pakistan

just now
Sina
Alibaba's Damo Academy has signed agreements with Pakistan’s Capital Hospital, Khawaja Safdar Medical College, and Sky47 to deploy its multi-cancer screening AI in local imaging departments. The system detects major cancers and chronic diseases, and has reportedly provided over 20 million screenings across ten countries and regions.

MiniMax launches MaxClaw on app

just now
MiniMax
MiniMax has launched MaxClaw globally on its iOS and Android app, enabling users to run OpenClaw with real-time cross-device sync. The company added Coding Plan billing as an alternative payment option and completed four emergency capacity expansions after traffic spikes caused service instability, with affected users set to receive credit compensation.

Xiaomi sees prolonged memory surge

just now
IT Zhijia
Xiaomi president Lu Weibing said memory chip prices have climbed to nearly four times last year’s levels and may keep rising until the end of 2027, marking an unusually long upcycle. He added that Xiaomi currently faces no supply shortages.

Meizu denies StarV team exit

just now
IT Zhijia
Meizu denied reports that its entire StarV AR system team had joined RayNeo, calling the claim false in a response to Chinese media. A person familiar with the matter said only some employees from Meizu’s Chengdu branch moved to RayNeo, disputing earlier claims of a full-team transfer.

Pony.ai robotaxis turn profit in Shenzhen

just now
Pony.ai
Pony.ai said its seventh-generation robotaxis achieved monthly per-vehicle operating profitability in Shenzhen in February, following a similar milestone in Guangzhou. In Shenzhen, average daily net revenue reached RMB 338 per car with 23 orders, as hardware costs fell about 70% from the prior generation and service coverage expanded.

Honor, ARRI partner on image tech

just now
Honor
Honor said it is working with ARRI to incorporate elements of the camera maker’s image science into its mobile devices, extending professional cinematic standards to smartphones. The initial output of the collaboration will launch in Honor's "robot phone," with a focus on color accuracy, highlight control, and workflow compatibility.

JD.com targets 30% delivery share

just now
JD.com
JD.com said its food delivery business has exceeded 15% market share and reached more than 240 million users in its first year, as it targets 30% share by 2026. The company reported the rejection of one million noncompliant merchants, capped commissions at 5%, signed 150,000 full-time riders with benefits, and plans nationwide expansion of its 7Fresh model.

Xiaomi wins autonomous driving patent

just now
Sina
Xiaomi has won approval for a patent that automates the generation of autonomous driving algorithm evaluation reports using LLMs. The method creates tailored prompts based on testing data and algorithm type, then inputs them into a preset LLM to produce structured reports, reducing manual effort while improving speed and consistency.

Wuliangye chair faces probe

just now
36Kr
Wuliangye said its chairman, Zeng Congqin, has been placed under investigation and subject to retention measures by Yibin authorities, according to a February 28 announcement. The spirits producer said other directors and senior executives remain in their roles, daily management is overseen by the executive team, and production and operations are proceeding normally.
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