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Alibaba has hired speech recognition expert Li Xiangang to lead voice AI research at its Tongyi Lab, replacing Yan Zhijie. Li brings deep experience f…

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<a href="/company/alibaba">Alibaba</a> has hired speech recognition expert Li Xiangang to lead voice <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> research at its Tongyi Lab, replacing Yan Zhijie. Li brings deep experience from prior roles at <a href="/company/baidu">Baidu</a>, <a href="/company/didi">Didi</a>, and 01.AI, where he developed voice tools now widely used across China’s tech sector.

InstaPay Technologies has secured USD 3 million in a Series A2 funding round, led by US family offices with renewed backing from ACA Investments. With this funding, the Malaysia-based fintech firm will expand its cross-border services and launch B2B remittance via its Glyd platform to support underbanked users and SMEs across Southeast Asia.

<a href="/company/temu">Temu</a> has signed a cloud hosting deal with Oracle amid ongoing US lawsuits and rising scrutiny over data privacy. The Chinese-owned app is accused of mishandling user data and is following <a href="/company/tiktok">TikTok’s</a> lead in localizing US data to address national security concerns. Temu denies allegations of improper data collection or sharing.

<a href="/company/deepseek">DeepSeek’s</a> updated R1 model has tied Google’s Gemini 2.5 and Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4 on the WebDev Arena coding leaderboard. Released in May, the enhanced R1 reportedly improves reasoning and halves hallucinations despite lower training costs. Developers are awaiting its R2 successor, though the company has yet to disclose a release timeline or details.

Alipay has integrated in-store payment functionality into Rokid’s new AR glasses, enabling users to complete purchases using voice commands and QR scans. With over 250,000 units reportedly preordered, the rollout this month signals a broader push toward hands-free, immersive commerce.

The Trump administration has issued a third executive order delaying TikTok’s US ban, granting <a href="/company/bytedance">ByteDance</a> 90 more days to divest. The app remains subject to a 2024 law requiring a qualified sale over national security concerns, as critics question the legality of repeated extensions and US-China deal talks falter.

<a href="/company/tencent">Tencent</a> has denied media reports that it is pursuing acquisitions of South Korean firms Nexon and Kakao Mobility. The company rejected claims of a USD 15 billion bid for Nexon and a 40% stake purchase in Kakao's mobility unit as untrue.

The Trump Organization's new USD 499 T1 smartphone, marketed as US-made, was likely designed and assembled in China, according to experts. The Android device uses various components from Asia, including MediaTek chips, Samsung displays, and Sony sensors, underscoring its reliance on an international supply chain.

10Ants, an urban revitalization startup, has raised USD 500,000 in pre-seed funding from Wavemaker Impact to convert Southeast Asia’s underused buildings into green, affordable hubs for SMEs. Based in Bangkok, its platform matches landlords with vetted small businesses to activate idle spaces, with future plans for eco-retrofits and growth support tools.

US officials considered broader export controls on semiconductor tools to China prior to the recent trade talks in London, potentially targeting equipment for basic chipmaking. Though shelved, the proposal highlights the sensitive state of US-China ties as Washington weighs new tech restrictions while companies like Applied Materials, Lam Research, and KLA remain reliant on Chinese sales.

<a href="/company/baidu">Baidu</a> hosted a six-hour live stream using AI-driven avatars, including a digital version of live streamer Yonghao Luo, drawing over 13 million views and RMB 55 million in sales. Powered by Ernie models, the event is part of Baidu’s broader push to commercialize digital humans in <a href="/industry/e-commerce">e-commerce</a>.

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The budget-friendly Kate brand is kicking off a promotional blitz with a fivefold budget boost.

Japan's Kao ramps up Asia makeup push as China, South Korea brands rise

Japan&#8217;s Kao ramps up Asia makeup push as China, South Korea brands rise

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Michelle Khoo is the leader of the Deloitte Center for The Edge Southeast Asia. With over a decade of experience in advising business and government leaders on long-term strategies, Khoo is passionate about shaping a more sustainable, fairer, and inclusive future in both physical and digital realms. Her work revolves around artificial intelligence, sustainability, metaverse, disruption, and innovation.

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Li Xiangang joins Alibaba’s Tongyi Lab

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