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ByteDance’s Volcano Engine is running a closed beta for a new digital human platform codenamed “Chimera,” which offers avatar creation, image reclothi…

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Alibaba, China’s e-commerce giant, operates online retail marketplaces, cloud computing services, and digital payment networks across Asia and beyond.

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<a href="/company/bytedance">ByteDance’s</a> Volcano Engine is running a closed beta for a new digital human platform codenamed “Chimera,” which offers avatar creation, image reclothing, and video translation. Developed by its <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> content team, the platform is invite-only and free during testing, with pricing to apply after a public launch expected later this month.

<a href="/company/alibaba">Alibaba</a> has unveiled Qwen3-Coder, a 480-billion-parameter MoE code model built for agentic coding and tool use. With native 256,000-token context and large-scale reinforcement learning, it reportedly tops open-source benchmarks including SWE-Bench. A companion CLI tool, Qwen Code, has also been open-sourced.

<a href="/industry/ai">AI</a>-powered tools like <a href="/company/openai">OpenAI's</a> ChatGPT and Perplexity captured 5.6% of US desktop search traffic in June, more than doubling YoY, according to Datos. The shift is forcing brands to rethink outreach as AI generally delivers one answer instead of search links, reducing visibility and prompting a wave of optimization efforts.

<a href="/company/tesla">Tesla</a> has opened a retro-themed diner in West Hollywood, pairing 80 V4 Supercharger units with rooftop seating, mega LED screens, and classic American fare. Open to all NACS-compatible <a href="/industry/ev">EVs</a>, the site doubles as a car charging hub and entertainment venue.

The UK government has signed a non-binding agreement with <a href="/company/openai">OpenAI</a> to explore AI-driven public service upgrades in sectors like education, defence, and justice. The deal may involve data sharing and infrastructure investment, while critics warn of vague terms, weak safeguards, and tech overreach.

Elon Musk-led xAI is seeking USD 12 billion in financing through a chip lease deal arranged by Valor Equity, aiming to expand infrastructure for its Grok chatbot amid rising <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> costs. The plan follows USD 10 billion already raised via stock and debt, as xAI burns cash and pledges key assets to stay competitive.

Kweichow Moutai and parent firm Moutai Group have established a RMB 1 billion research company to advance fermentation, biotech, and environmental technologies. Holding a 49% stake, Kweichow Moutai aims to consolidate R&amp;D resources and enhance product quality as part of its broader push for innovation and long-term growth.

Runtian, a Chinese bottled water firm pursuing a backdoor listing, has denied ties to viral online claims by a woman alleging past involvement with the company. She accused shareholders of asset misuse and raised personal debt disputes, but Runtian said she and her spouse have had no connection to the firm since a 2014 restructuring.

Pinhaofan, <a href="/company/meituan">Meituan’s</a> low-cost meal service, now supports over one million vendors and has grown branded restaurant partnerships by 64% YoY. With daily orders surpassing 35 million, it has launched a campaign to onboard 10,000 more brands, offering tailored support to reach price-conscious consumers and scale its value-focused strategy.

<a href="/company/deepseek">DeepSeek’s</a> chatbot saw downloads drop 72% and users decline 9% in Q2 2025, as Chinese consumers shifted toward <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a>-driven apps focused on productivity and study, according to QuestMobile. <a href="/company/bytedance">ByteDance’s</a> Doubao gained market share, while <a href="/company/tencent">Tencent’s</a> ima.copilot and 360 Wenku led in MAU growth.

Chinese brands are gaining ground in the global foldable phone market, with <a href="/company/huawei">Huawei</a> projected to reach a 34.3% share in 2025, just behind Samsung. <a href="/company/honor">Honor</a>, <a href="/company/lenovo">Lenovo</a>, and <a href="/company/xiaomi">Xiaomi</a> are also expected to gain momentum as they expand their lineups ahead of a potential demand surge in 2026.

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The US market serves as both the backbone and the driving force behind global technological advancements.

Pang Ruoming built Apple’s foundational AI models, but secrecy and internal gridlock kept his team in the shadows—until he walked.

Trapped by silence: How Apple lost its top AI talent to Meta

36Kr is China's most influential business and technology network, delivering high-quality content focused on China’s innovation and new economy trends since 2010. With its extensive traffic and network, 36Kr has built a comprehensive database and strong data analytics capabilities to provide insights into China’s technology landscape.

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36Kr English

Built to predict the next best word, AI has become adept at reflecting human empathy. For many, that reflection is enough to offer comfort.

“This must be painful for you”: How AI became our emotional mirror

A real debate is brewing over whether Moonshot AI’s latest open-source model belongs in the top echelon of AI.

ByteDance tests "Chimera" platform

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