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Koitake, a designer toy unit under Damai Entertainment (formerly Alibaba Pictures), has been shut down due to low revenue and limited market traction.…

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Koitake, a designer toy unit under Damai Entertainment (formerly Alibaba Pictures), has been shut down due to low revenue and limited market traction. The brand contributed just 2% of fiscal 2025 revenue for Hujing, <a href="/company/alibaba">Alibaba’s</a> rebranded digital media and entertainment division. The move aligns with a broader pivot toward live events and IP merchandising.

Southeast Asia’s <a href="/industry/e-commerce">e-commerce</a> market grew 12% to USD 145.2 billion in 2024, including USD 16.8 billion in non-platform sales. <a href="/company/shopee">Shopee</a> led platform-based GMV with a 52% share, followed by <a href="/company/tiktok-shop">TikTok Shop</a> and <a href="/company/lazada">Lazada</a>. Together, the three platforms accounted for 84% of the market. Thailand and Malaysia posted the fastest growth.

Unitree Robotics founder Wang Xingxing said the firm’s annual revenue has surpassed RMB 1 billion and that it has remained profitable since 2020. The company employs about 1,000 people and currently leads global shipments of quadruped and humanoid robots.

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A US judge ruled that Meta’s use of books to train its Llama <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> model qualifies as “fair use” under copyright law, dismissing a lawsuit from 13 authors including Sarah Silverman. The court found the plaintiffs failed to show market harm but stressed the ruling is limited to this case and does not validate broader AI training practices. A similar decision was recently issued in a <a href="https://kr-asia.com/pulses/155031">case involving Anthropic</a>.

MegaRobo Technologies, a life sciences automation and robotics company, has filed for a potential listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, appointing Morgan Stanley, Huatai Financial, Deutsche Bank, and CCB International as overall coordinators. No public offering is currently underway, and the listing remains subject to regulatory approval.

Casbot, a Chinese startup focused on <a href="/industry/robotics">humanoid robots</a>, has raised nearly RMB 100 million in an angel plus funding round. Backers include Lens Technology, Tianjin Jiayi, and existing investors SDIC Unity Capital and Henan Asset Management. The funds will support mass production and R&amp;D as Casbot expands in industrial and mining applications.

FWD Group, backed by billionaire Richard Li, is seeking HKD 3.5 billion in a Hong Kong IPO by offering 91.3 million shares at HKD 38 each. Trading is set to begin on July 7, marking a long-awaited debut after a scrapped US listing in 2021 and multiple postponements. The deal is backed by Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs.

<a href="/company/nvidia">Nvidia</a> CEO Jensen Huang said <a href="/industry/robotics">robotics</a> is the company’s next priority after chips. Speaking to shareholders, he outlined plans to power billions of autonomous systems, including self-driving cars and robotic factories, expanding Nvidia’s focus to cover virtual simulation, motion training, and real-world deployment, among other areas.

<a href="/company/tesla">Tesla's</a> robotaxi pilot in Austin, Texas has revealed multiple issues, including erratic lane changes, abrupt stops, and unsafe alighting points, according to videos from riders. Despite the presence of safety monitors, the footage has drawn scrutiny from road safety experts and local officials. Tesla has not publicly addressed the incidents.

<a href="/company/nvidia">Nvidia</a> shares hit an all-time high on June 25, rising 4.3% to USD 154.31 and lifting its market cap to USD 3.77 trillion, surpassing Microsoft as the world’s most valuable public company. The chipmaker has gained 63% since April, fueled by strong earnings and sustained demand for <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> infrastructure.

Microsoft and <a href="/company/openai">OpenAI</a> are at odds over a contract clause that would end Microsoft’s access to artificial general intelligence if OpenAI achieves it. Microsoft has pushed to remove the provision, but OpenAI has refused. Both companies said talks are ongoing and that they remain optimistic about continuing their partnership.

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From underground mining to quality inspection, Casbot’s machines target environments where traditional automation falls short.

China’s Casbot bags funding to build humanoid bots for tough industrial work

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Koitake, the IP-driven toy unit under Alibaba’s Hujing business, has been phased out as the tech giant shifts its attention to higher-margin verticals.

Alibaba's Damai shuts Koitake toy unit

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Deals in brief: Shiok Burger and 3cat raise funding, Timah Partners gets USD 50 million to tackle SME succession, latest China deals and more

China’s Casbot bags funding to build humanoid bots for tough industrial work

Alibaba dials back designer toy ambitions, shuts Koitake to sharpen focus